Customer Reviews

Wood & The Wire

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Fairport has come up with a few good gems since Sandy Denny's departure, true, but their albums had always been somewhat uneven since. By the time of Jewel in the Crown they showed they could still put together a few good tunes, but they were edging perilously close to becoming folk/rock's equivalent of Pink Floyd - a band coasting on past achievements and name recognition. I was worried that after a couple more albums their slide down this slippery slope would be complete and we'd be left with only our old copies of Liege & Lief and Unhalfbricking to console us.

Well well, how wrong I was. To be honest I like Martin Allcock and Dave Mattacks, but on this album they're hardly even missed. The others, along with newcomer Chris Leslie, play with a spirit and energy I haven't heard from them in years. There's a bigger emphasis on guitars and string instruments (as if the title wasn't a giveaway) and fewer keyboards. The band's rejuvenated spirit pervades everything, even the more 'serious' numbers such as Sanders' "Year and a Day" and the somber "The Lady Vanishes." If you've been a little indifferent about Fairport's last few releases, don't hesitate to pick this one up. It's good to have them back.

Wood and the Wire was my introduction to Fairport Convention. Stumbled across it by "mistake" and needing one more CD for free shipping, it has not only become a staple on my stereo, but compelled me to purchase other titles. Slowly but surely those close to me are becoming addicted as well. The beat is amazing, the words paint pictures. The more I listen, the more I hear.

This is a highly enjoyable effort from Dave Pegg,Simon Nichol,and Co.

Chris Leslie(who joined for the "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" album) emerges as a wonderful songwriter,as well as a master musician,playing guitar,violin Greek lute,mandolin,and even the Native Australian didgeridoo!(on his beautiful "The Wandering Man")

New drummer Gerry Conway shows his stuff on a wide array of exotic percussion.

GET IT NOW!

I discovered this CD 8 years after it was released. It is now my favorite music. The production quality is perfection. The songs are touching, memorable, beautiful. The listener discovers hauntingly original musical flourishes with every new listen. I grew up listening to Fairport in the 60's and 70's. This is better. More mature. More positive. More memorable.

Bad poetry set to music, with most tunes sounding like a bad American neo-coutry album. I made the mistake of buying this record at the same time as Angel Delight. The lack-luster songwriting, lifeless performances and poor choice of material would have disappointed me anyway, and played back-to-back with the almost flawless Angel Delight the shortcoming of Wood and The Wire were even more evident.

I can see why Dave Mattacks left this band!

Bad poetry set to music, with most tunes sounding like a bad American neo-coutry album. I made the mistake of buying this record at the same time as Angel Delight. The lack-luster songwriting, lifeless performances and poor choice of material would have disappointed me anyway, and played back-to-back with the almost flawless Angel Delight the shortcoming of Wood and The Wire were even more evident.

I can see why Dave Mattacks left this band!