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Product Description
Product Description
After 25 years the mighty HOME SERVICE return with a fistful of festival appearances and a magnificent incendiary live album. "The greatest rock-folk ensemble of all" return with a new live album taken from a recently discovered tape. Recorded live at the 1986 Cambridge Festival this CD captures the band in all their majestic glory.
Review
Back in the 20th century, long before The Unthanks and Mumford & Sons, Home Service really did seem to offer a fresh way forward for the long-overdue folk revival. Rising out of the ashes of The Albion Band, the eight-piece outfit were strong on politics, performance and a bracing brand of music which sounds as strong and exhilarating today as it did on these performances from 1986.
There were so many elements which made them special: the songwriting skills of John Tams; the fiery guitar of Graeme Taylor; the impeccable choice of material. Yet what really elevated Home Service from the folk-rock rut was their innovative brass section. On disc, the late Howard Evans (trumpet), Andy Findon (flute) and Roger Williams (trombone) propel the music with vigour. But it's the very Englishness which made the band stand out: this is not the funky brass of the Memphis Horns, rather a stately procession, born out of Salvation Army and colliery brass bands.
Back together for the first time in 25 years, the 'star' of Home Service is Tams, familiar for his trio of solo albums, TV appearances in Sharpe and as the musical force behind War Horse. But here, Tams is very much a team player, his songs nailed by the rock-hard rhythm section of Michael Gregory and Jonathan Davie. And what songs they are, among the best the anthemic Walk My Way and Alright Jack, which call for unity and camaraderie. Scarecrow stands as one of the most striking of all anti-war songs, while the medley of Sorrow and Babylon is even more inspiring in its depiction of a world run riot. But it is the ineffably poignant Rose of Allendale which is perhaps the outstanding performance.
I doubt if you will hear music as committed and heartfelt as this from any genre this year - and it's ironic that it comes from the much-maligned folk tradition, and from a bunch of geezers old enough to know better. It would be criminal to let them slip away again. Home Service are back, and you are wholeheartedly recommended to tune in.
--Patrick Humphries
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Pete Fyfe
Format:Audio CD
This recording should be a required purchase by every music consumer who considers themselves tuned in. My formative years of the folk-rock scene in the UK were amazing in that I was lucky enough to witness in their full glory acts such as Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention, the Celtic styled JSD Band and Five Hand Reel and the quintessential English sound of the Albion Dance Band and later The Home Service. Of course, it was pretty selfish of us to feel that the band should be exclusively the preserve of the `folk' world and that we, in a way would smother the band's very existence by classifying it `folk' music. Still, we're lucky enough that from the vaults comes this more than welcome release lovingly restored by the band's lead guitarist Graeme Taylor and released on David Suff's excellent Fledg'ling Records. This time I hope that the band are given the air to breath and flourish without the stigma of pigeon-holing. In some ways this octuplet (I've always wanted to use that term) come across as a traditional imbued Jools Holland Orchestra with first rate vocals (courtesy of the legendary John Tams) and a wind/brass section to die for. Every song and tune on the CD strike the right note with not one track out of place and (all too rarely) leaves you clamouring for more. This is an album that will make you proud to be British without the feeling the music's been hijacked by some football team or other for their own nefarious purposes so let's just wallow in the grandiose performances of "Alright Jack", "Battle Pavanne/Peat Bog Soldiers" and the mellow "Rose Of Allendale". Still, enough talking...I'm off for a serious dose of nostalgia and hopefully there'll be many more who will join me in saluting the return of one of this country's greatest musical ambassadors.
PETE FYFE
PETE FYFE
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By SIS
Format:Audio CD
When I ordered the CD I was a little concerned about the likely quality of this live recording. There was no need. The sound is very good and the set is great. The whole CD is brilliant.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Peter
Format:Audio CD
Home Service appeared at Cropredy this year, they were the outstanding act of the 3 days. Although 25 years old, the songs are as relevant today as they were then. Excellent vocals from John Tams and sublime guitar from Graeme Taylor. Buy!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A stellar band in every way!
I think that I last saw the awesome Home Service back in the 1980's at Greenwich Town Hall, taking in tow a rather sceptical friend and metal fan who had finally succumbed to my... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. S. De Monchaux
5.0 out of 5 stars
more please
home service - what can you say ... they were the best!! hopes of reforming and more more more from Tams and co seemed remote ... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mrs. I. Commins
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still relevant 25 years on
Purchased this on the strength of their excellent appearance at this years's Cambridge Folk Festival. Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. A. Koch
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