This review is written by Dai Woosnam, daigress@hotmail.com, 8/06
I was going to start this review by saying that Keith Kendrick
is a proud member of the Swiss Navy. Then I remembered that Switzerland
does have a small navy of sorts.
But for all you non-Brits reading this, let me quickly explain that I
am alluding to the title of this fine album. Derbyshire does not have a
coastline, since it is almost the most inland of all the counties of
England. And even in flood, the tiny River Erewash that separates it
from Nottinghamshire, is not exactly the mighty Amazon Delta, to be
mistaken for the sea.
But it is a clever title: it sets out the stall of this CD, since many
of the songs have a nautical aspect to them. A “nautical aspect” that
is, of course, to be expected from such an expert shantyman such as “KK.”
And the cleverness doesn’t end with the title. KK has been very astute
in adding to the fine contributions of his usual female duettists, by
recruiting the help of (some time occasional collaborators) Cross O’the
Hands, a four piece Derbyshire ceilidh band (and SO much more) who are
truly top-drawer.
And Keith has also been “very astute” in coming up with a nicely balanced choice of - mostly familiar - songs.
At the end of playing the CD three times, I had many favourite tracks.
Initially I had gone for his (and Sylvia Needham’s) version of that
old Copper Family standard, “The Echoin’ Horn.” But then, on second and
third listenings, I had found that there was a strong case to be made
for his version of the traditional “Beulah Land” (not to be confused
with the equally wonderful old hymn of the same name by Edgar P.
Stites) that I sang as a boy with such fervour in my Welsh
non-conformist chapel, with that unforgettable refrain:
“O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land,
As on thy highest mount I stand,
I look away across the sea,
Where mansions are prepared for me,
And view the shining glory shore,
My heav’n, my home forevermore!”
So no, my bit of self-indulgence over it ain’t THAT one.
Rather, it is the “Beulah Land” made famous in American Folk circles by
the singing of the late much-revered Helen Schneyer. And it is almost
as good a song as the 1876 hymn.
And here it is made very memorable by some inspired fiddle playing by Sarah Matthews of Cross O’the Hands.
WildGoose would not be WildGoose without presenting me with an album
that has at least one song on it that arrives at me from left field and
takes my breath away. Here, that song is something called “The Sailor’s
Prayer,” written by formerly New York-based, but recently moved to Florida, Rod MacDonald. Golly, I can see this
becoming a standard on the UK Folk scene.
WildGoose are also true to form in providing very legible and classy
liner notes. However, supremo Doug Bailey has taken his eye off the
ball slightly by allowing “a cappella” to be misspelled in the notes on
the MacDonald song. It strikes me, given the nature of the
WildGoose catalogue, that this is the ONE term that should always
be properly spelt!
Yes, a cheap shot from me, I know. For we can all make simple spelling errors, me included.
But Doug will perhaps be a little concerned that when, visited by a
non-folkie friend when that very song was playing, I was asked if it
was Lynne Heraud or Sylvia Needham who was singing harmony.
I replied that I thought it was the latter, but to be sure, my friend
should look up the credits inside the back page of the liner notes. And
guess what? Nobody is credited for track 10 vocal harmony!
Okay, the liner notes earlier do give the clue that it is indeed
Sylvia, but Doug will be anxious to ensure that this blip in his usual
100% professional presentation will not recur.
But talking of “recurring”: I can only hope that there are many more
visits to the recording studios for KK, for he has never been in better
voice and never has his concertina playing been more accomplished.
Dai Woosnam
Grimsby, England
daigress@hotmail.com
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