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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Although academically rooted in the traditional music of the British Isles (Mum and Dad, need it be reiterated, are Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy) ace fiddler and folk starlet Eliza Carthy describes Anglicana as "an expression of Englishness as I feel it". This--given her one-girl quest to make archaic Yorkshire sword dances and songs about courting farm labourers acceptable to 21st century alternative-lifestyle persons with studs in their tongues--is a fairly candid admission that mild interpretative forces are at play.
Rummaging through Dad's old dusty song sheets and century-old Lincolnshire field recordings for inspirational sources, Anglicana is a country mile from the mainstream pop gloss of 2000's major-label release Angels and Cigarettes, offering a healthy contrast of the familiar and obscure, all of which is indubitably "traditional" bar the one self-penned instrumental, "Dr McMBE", a meditative little tribute and acknowledgement to her Father's scholarly acclaim and trip to see Liz at The Palace. Be it the well-worn "Just As The Tide Was Flowing"--a tune much-favoured by Vaughan Williams and 10,000 Maniacs--in which the sombre tone of a melodeon gives way to the sweetness and tragedy of Carthy's voice, or the shadowy, atmospheric versions of "Bold Privateer" and "Worcester City"--a poisonous, crime-of-passion tale rattling from the speakers with a muscular combination of Carthy's brusquely-scraped fiddle and Donald Hay's martial drumming--Anglicana is as faultless as these things come. The whole thing is aptly curtain-called by "Willow Tree", a swinging mélange of jazz violin, trumpets and saxes, resembling the late 1960s Kinks doing a sundown, cider-slurred cabaret slot at the village fete. --Kevin Maidment
Product Description
'Anglicana' is a sensational album of traditional songs refracted through the sensibilities of an extraordinary young twenty first century musician. Eliza Carthy, daughter of Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson, is the most impressive and engaging performer of her generation. Not only an inventive, innovative singer and fiddle-player, she is a musical conceptualist who treats the bequest of the folk tradition with respect and knowledge and, sometimes, with refreshing irreverence. The splendid 'Anglicana' stands as her finest recorded work to date and received the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Album winner in 2003, as well as being short listed for the Mercury Award
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album marks the fulfillment of Eliza Carthy's great early promise. On her previous albums (and with Waterson: Carthy), I've enjoyed her fiddle playing and the song arrangements, but have not been quite sure about the quality of her singing. I felt all along, however, that it was only a matter of time before she entered into her inheritance. "Anglicana" is the first masterpiece of Eliza Carthy's maturity. The fascinating thing is that you can hear the strengths of both her father's and her mother's singing styles. At last she enters into and inhabits her material in the way that marks out her parents (and her aunt and uncle, Lal and Mike Waterson) as Britain's finest singers of traditional material. This isn't at all like her album of "modern" songs last year (though I quite liked that too): all the songs are traditional (except a lovely instrumental on which Martin plays guitar, written by Eliza for her Dad's 60th birthday), but there are none of the stale choices on so many folk albums. On "In London So Far", Eliza accompanies herself on the piano - I've not heard folk music accompanied by the piano before (except for the wonderful Britten/Pears collaborations), and Eliza's playing is a revelation. This is a stunning rendition. The same can be said of "The Bold Privateer", a song which she wrung out of her old man, and which she sings very much as one imagines as he would sing it, with great strength and appreciation of its dark power. If this doesn't win best performance of a traditional song at next year's Kate Rusby Aw- sorry, Radio 2 Folk Awards, there is no justice in the world. Truly a revelation.
A strong hint of this suddening blossoming of a long-suggested talent can be heard on the latest Waterson: Carthy album, on which Eliza contributions are finally the equal of her illustrious parents' (and is my second favourite folk release of 2002, after Anglicana). After her brief flirtation with popular music (of a superior kind), Eliza has made a triumphant return to her roots .
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By citrusgirrl
Format:Audio CD
well i thought that rice was pretty damn good, but when i got this for christmas (i had to restrain myself heavily from buying it beforehand) i nearly fell over. everything i liked about rice is included here - eliza's beautiful and highly characteristic voice, her wonderful fiddle playing and her flair for arranging songs in unexpected and delightful ways..
although i am a big fan of paired down arrangements usually, i'd trust any song in eliza's hands. alongside more traditional folk arrangements we have elements of jazz and anything else she feels will add to the music....
needless to say i am a huge fan, and anyone doubting her amazing vocal skills should see her live. i saw her before christmas at a small gig in edinburgh and she sang a couple of acappella songs, effortlessly keeping the whole audience listening to the story and enjoying the warmth of her voice.
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
In a good year for folk releases this stands out. Anglicana is a collection of classic folk songs performed with Eliza Carthy's wit and attention to detail. If your friends still live under the illusion that British folk is un-subtle and grossly nasal, this is the CD to peove them wrong. Intense and intelligent performances delight the ear and stretch the mind.
He accompanying musicians share her passion and her understated readings of great songs. This is an important release and a delight.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Glee to set toes a-tapping!
This a wonderful album of traditional music from these sceptred isles.
I love the combination of what almost sounds like a scratch band who just happened to pick up some... Read more
I love the combination of what almost sounds like a scratch band who just happened to pick up some... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Lady Fancifull
5.0 out of 5 stars
Traditional English folk songs in a contemporary setting
Eliza Carthy, daughter of folk singers Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy, emerged in the late nineties as Britain's leading female folk singer. Read more
Published on 20 May 2005 by Peter Durward Harris
4.0 out of 5 stars
A new genre
Eliza Carthy boldly lays claim to a new genre with the inspired title of this beautiful album. It fits her music perfectly and needs no further explanation. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2005 by Laurence Upton
4.0 out of 5 stars
First time
As a long time student of American folk ('Americana') I thought is was about time I investigated my own folk music. What a revelation. The whole album is a joy. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2005 by tim jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
A landmark
Unless Eliza surpasses herself, (and I wouldn't put it past her) this will stand as one of the albums of the decade. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2004 by Piers Cawley
2.0 out of 5 stars
Boring, boring,...
I finally got round to getting this album, and now wish I hadn't... Whilst 'okay', Carthy does not have a voice to set the world alight, and she sounds somewhat disconnected on... Read more
Published on 12 July 2003 by Mace Maclean
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent.
This was my introduction to Eliza Carthy, and I have to say it blew me away. Although sometimes repetitive in tone and style, there are some accomplished folk ballads here and... Read more
Published on 10 April 2003 by "alexjs82"
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