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Product Description
CD Description
Unique songwriting collaboration and performance between eight of the most celebrated folk artists from the UK and the US; Chris Wood, Karine Polwart, Emily Smith, Jez Lowe, Mark Erelli, Krista Detor, Stu Hanna and Rachael McShane.
In March 2009 eight artists gathered together in rural Shropshire for a week long songwriting retreat, to create new works that have a ‘resonance and relevance’ to Darwin – who was born in Shrewsbury in 1809. The eight artists cover a wide range of songwriting experience and styles – from the experience of Chris Wood and Jez Lowe, through to the youth of Rachael McShane and Stu Hanna. Bringing in two celebrated American singer/songwriters in Mark Erelli and Krista Detor, alongside Karine Polwart and Emily Smith who have both previously being involved in similar collaborative events, gave the perfect artistic balance for the project.
The CD captures 17 of the songs performed on the night, and features all 8 artists in both lead and supporting roles, culminating in Woods’ ensemble piece. The songs cover all aspects of Darwin’s life and legacy, and as you’d expect from the pedigree of artists involved, the quality of the songs and performances is exceptional. The live CD has been beautifully mixed by Stu Hanna (who is currently producing the new Show of Hands disc), and it captures the magic of these songs on their first public performance. Many of the songs are already finding their way in the Darwin artists’ individual live repertoire.
The Darwin Song Project has already been the subject of a dedicated BBC Radio 4 documentary and was featured on Mike Harding’s BBC Radio 2 show with interviews and songs.
In March 2009 eight artists gathered together in rural Shropshire for a week long songwriting retreat, to create new works that have a ‘resonance and relevance’ to Darwin – who was born in Shrewsbury in 1809. The eight artists cover a wide range of songwriting experience and styles – from the experience of Chris Wood and Jez Lowe, through to the youth of Rachael McShane and Stu Hanna. Bringing in two celebrated American singer/songwriters in Mark Erelli and Krista Detor, alongside Karine Polwart and Emily Smith who have both previously being involved in similar collaborative events, gave the perfect artistic balance for the project.
The CD captures 17 of the songs performed on the night, and features all 8 artists in both lead and supporting roles, culminating in Woods’ ensemble piece. The songs cover all aspects of Darwin’s life and legacy, and as you’d expect from the pedigree of artists involved, the quality of the songs and performances is exceptional. The live CD has been beautifully mixed by Stu Hanna (who is currently producing the new Show of Hands disc), and it captures the magic of these songs on their first public performance. Many of the songs are already finding their way in the Darwin artists’ individual live repertoire.
The Darwin Song Project has already been the subject of a dedicated BBC Radio 4 documentary and was featured on Mike Harding’s BBC Radio 2 show with interviews and songs.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In March 2009 Chris Wood, Karine Polwart, Jez Lowe, Mark Erelli, Emily Smith, Rachael McShane, Krista Detor and Stu Hanna gathered together for 7 days in farmhouse in rural Shropshire. They were tasked with creating new songs that had a `resonance and relevance to Darwin'.
The artists performed the 17 new songs to a sold out audience at the new Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.
All the artists worked together and created a fantastic collection of songs, that was matched by the quality of the performances on the night.
The artists all wrote and performed the songs together, lead vocals and instrumental duties are shared evenly across the album.
There are some stellar songs amongst over the 73 minutes, the highlights include Krista Detor's `Clock of the World' which brings all the female vocalists together in perfect harmony, Chris Wood's `Turtle Soup' is dripping in atmosphere and feeling, and Mark Erelli and Karine Polwart's `Mother of Mysteries' is brimming with energy and life.
Recorded live, the stage was set up with studio microphones to capture the very best sound quality possible and the results are exceptional, and are enhanced by the superb mixing from Hanna.
The project was the feature of a BBC Radio 4 documentary and a feature on Mike Harding's BBC Radio 2 show.
The Darwin Song Project is an exceptional album that came out of an ambitious project, it shows the strength and skills of all 8 artists to write, arrange and perform these songs to this standard after only 6 days.
The artists performed the 17 new songs to a sold out audience at the new Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.
All the artists worked together and created a fantastic collection of songs, that was matched by the quality of the performances on the night.
The artists all wrote and performed the songs together, lead vocals and instrumental duties are shared evenly across the album.
There are some stellar songs amongst over the 73 minutes, the highlights include Krista Detor's `Clock of the World' which brings all the female vocalists together in perfect harmony, Chris Wood's `Turtle Soup' is dripping in atmosphere and feeling, and Mark Erelli and Karine Polwart's `Mother of Mysteries' is brimming with energy and life.
Recorded live, the stage was set up with studio microphones to capture the very best sound quality possible and the results are exceptional, and are enhanced by the superb mixing from Hanna.
The project was the feature of a BBC Radio 4 documentary and a feature on Mike Harding's BBC Radio 2 show.
The Darwin Song Project is an exceptional album that came out of an ambitious project, it shows the strength and skills of all 8 artists to write, arrange and perform these songs to this standard after only 6 days.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I admit I was skeptical to say the least when a friend pointed me at the project web site. It's a concept album, it's a commision, it was written in a week by a committee (albeit of very fine musicians)and it's a live performance - It just sounds like it shouldn't work but it does and how! 17 superb tracks drawing on multiple styles and generes, it's worth it for 'clock of the world' alone but there are at least five other tracks of the same calibre. Definitely my favourite piece of new music for 2009 - buy it, you won't regret it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was tempted into buying this on the opinion of others so I bought it without hearing any of the content although I was familiar with the work of the contributors. I do not regret the money spent - worth every penny and more!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Love it !
So good, from the beautiful harmony of "Clock of the World" to the delightful wry humour of "We'll Hunt Him Down" (listen carefully to that last line), this is a great collection. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Ausborn
What's it all about
I feel rather foolish. I heard one of the artists at a concert and searched for work by him. I arrived at this album, heard his song and pressed the "buy" button. Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2010 by Mr. John A. Pendry
Outstanding
I was lucky enough to see one of the performances of the Darwin Song Project at the 2009 Shrewsbury Folk Festival and bough the CD straight away! Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2010 by M. Howard
A work of great beauty
Having seen this project performed live at Shrewsbury Folk Festival last August and watched video interviews with various of the artists involved, purchasing the album was a... Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2010 by allan challenger
MAGICAL FOLK
A BEAUTIFUL ALBUM CREATED BY GREAT ARTISTS IN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN SHROPSHIRE THE WORDS AND MUSIC ARE MAGICAL AND JOYFUL TO HEAR
Published on 5 Oct 2009 by K. D. Booles
an intriguing project pretty well realised
I bought this largely for the Chris Wood songs and both are excellent. As you would expect with a project of this sort [multi artist, songs written on a specific theme, over a... Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2009 by Simon Dewsbury
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