So ---
how are you when it comes to loosening your grussets, traddling your thrums and letting your bossocks down as you consider the stresses of being a bogle clencher?
If none of that makes sense to you, then I'm not sure why you're looking at this CD. Mark you, none of it does make any sense at all; not in the slightest - but it is brilliant beyond belief for just that reason.
Rambling Syd first became a cultural icon when he sang his cordwangler's ballads in the BBC Radio series 'Round the Horne'. His laments and love songs from the long-lost days of fumbling shops and thunder jugs truly captured the essence of Englishness with their poignant tales of love, yearning and unrequited desire - not to mention various forms of unmentionable afflictions of the moolies and lallies.
Take, as a simple example, 'The Sussex Whindling Song' which Syd discovered whilst dipping into his gander bag. (His lengthy introduction is nothing less than pure joy to listen to)
Will you still love me Mary - O
when my grussets be bended low,
when my orbs grow dim and my pubes grow white
and my cordwangle makes an ugly sight
and my grussets be bended low,
and my grussets be bended low.
You ask me if I'll love you - O
though your grussets be bended low,
though your orbs be dim and your pubes be white
and your cordwangle makes an ugly sight.
If I feel the way I do tonight,
my answer will still beeeeeeeeEEeeee - NO!
The fact that all the songs are based on well known traditional melodies makes this whole listening experience even more authentic. Martin Carthy was NEVER like this.
All the songs are introduced by Syd in front of live audiences and are NOT simply lifted out of the 'Round the Horne' tapes.
So, if you want your withers rung and your moolies traddled, this CD just has to be one to add to your collection.
And if you think this review is little more than gibberish, then this CD is definitely not for you!
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If I have any quibbles with this CD it's that it really did need a lyric sheet with references to the tunes used, and it's a shame the various tracks fade in and out rather than being merged to make it sound like a continuous performance in front of a live audience. But those small niggles can be overlooked in the face of such masterful invention and perfect comedic timing and performance.