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Review
2007's Prodigal Son proved a high-water mark in Martin Simpson's near 40-year career, picking up a clutch of awards (including BBC Radio 2's Folk Album of the Year) and provoking unanimous praise from public and pundits. True Stories seems and sounds every bit as accomplished and deserving of attention and applause.
The mix remains the same - an intelligent and incisive blend of traditional and original material woven together to conjure up an imaginative, richly populated landscape drawn, ironically enough in this instance, from songs claiming to illustrate true narratives.
The musical accent is marked by a lightly-worn eclecticism that effortlessly embraces New Orleans jazz and countrified pedal guitar (the empathetic jauntiness of An Englishman Abroad), Northumbrian dance tunes (the sprightly Kielder Schottische and small-scale epic Will Atkinson) and Scottish ballads in the magnificent album opener, Look Up, Look Down, and the bittersweet The Wind and the Rain, with both also borrowing from American and English influences. There are hints of R&B, the Blues and the nursery room - Done It Again fills out Humpty Dumpty's biography to touching mock-heroic effect - with Simpson's discretely coloured vocals assuming an almost conversational, tone throughout.
The voice aside, Simpson is at his quietly virtuosic best instrumentally, with scene-stealing displays of finger-picking dexterity jostling for attention with the subtlest of approaches to telling detail and a bold, unfettered command of gesture.
Support comes courtesy of strong-in-depth contributions from bass icon Danny Thompson, pedal steel guitarist BJ Cole, Bellowhead's fiddler-frontman Jon Boden, ex-Page and Plant hurdy-gurdy guru Nigel Eaton, Radiohead drummer Phil Selway, ace accordionist Andy Cutting and co-producer Andy Seward on bass.
You'd be best advised to approach some of the tales on True Stories with a sceptical ear, but it's safe to take at face value the quality of execution from a musician clearly at the top of his form and capable of weaving wonderfully evocative musical tapestries from apparently base materials. --Michael Quinn
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Observer Music Monthly - ****
The late flowering of Scunthorpe's folk hero continues, with a band including Radiohead's drummer and a poignant collection of songs (plus a rant about Tony Blair to the tune of Humpty Dumpty).
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I saw Martin for the first time live in Leamington Spa last night and was bowled over. I'd only recently discovered him via the 'That's Proper Folk' compilation (available here at a stupidly low price!That's Proper Folk ) and immediately began hoovering-up Martin's back catalogue.
If someone had told me that he was a guitar virtuoso with a folky voice, I would have ran a mile expecting his albums to be pleasant but dull. However, they're nothing of the sort. What strikes me is the range of styles that are present on his albums. They're rich in detail, broad in the sense that many genres are expertly covered and, so far, every album contains a geniune tear-jerker. To be moved by music is one of life's great joys and you really feel that Martin reaches out to his audience and really connects.
The True Stories album sounds simply gorgeous. Unforgetable songs and instrumentals that'll you'll be humming quietly to yourself whilst staring at the rain or the approaching dusk. A soundtrack to a real life.
I can't believe I spent so long listening to music without Martin coming onto my radar. Now I feel like a disciple who wants to tell the world about this great music.
If someone had told me that he was a guitar virtuoso with a folky voice, I would have ran a mile expecting his albums to be pleasant but dull. However, they're nothing of the sort. What strikes me is the range of styles that are present on his albums. They're rich in detail, broad in the sense that many genres are expertly covered and, so far, every album contains a geniune tear-jerker. To be moved by music is one of life's great joys and you really feel that Martin reaches out to his audience and really connects.
The True Stories album sounds simply gorgeous. Unforgetable songs and instrumentals that'll you'll be humming quietly to yourself whilst staring at the rain or the approaching dusk. A soundtrack to a real life.
I can't believe I spent so long listening to music without Martin coming onto my radar. Now I feel like a disciple who wants to tell the world about this great music.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Those of you who bought his excellent Prodigal Son album will not be disappointed. It contains, the now expected, outstanding guitar playing and a good mix of songs and instrumentals: naturally, he is supported by an array of very talented musicians.
Amongst this is the stunning One Day. A story of tragedy and hope that will move all but the coldest heart. It is based on the sight of twin oaks .... when a gypsy child is buried, an acorn in placed in each hand.
For the background see Mike Hardin's blog on the BBC Web Site. Below is a short quote.
"Martin Taylor's son Stewart died tragically young, and the song, based on a four-line poem by Martin Taylor and finished by Martin Simpson is a simple, heart-breaking story that draws much of its imagery from gypsy life"
You will never look at a pair of twin oaks in a hedgerow in the same way again.
Amongst this is the stunning One Day. A story of tragedy and hope that will move all but the coldest heart. It is based on the sight of twin oaks .... when a gypsy child is buried, an acorn in placed in each hand.
For the background see Mike Hardin's blog on the BBC Web Site. Below is a short quote.
"Martin Taylor's son Stewart died tragically young, and the song, based on a four-line poem by Martin Taylor and finished by Martin Simpson is a simple, heart-breaking story that draws much of its imagery from gypsy life"
You will never look at a pair of twin oaks in a hedgerow in the same way again.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Another great album from Martin Simpson. Stunning virtuosity on the various guitars, excellent songs and brilliant work by the accompanying musicians. I am particularly impressed with Andy Cutting's efforts on melodeon. In my opinion this album has managed the difficult task of maintaining the same high standard as the previous album Prodigal Son.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
k c
another well crafted epic from our northern maestro ,if you like his other work you will not be disappointed
Published on 10 Feb 2010 by K. D. Clayton
True Stories review
A portfolio of Martin Simpson's talents, showing the breadth of his capbilities across the acoustic music genre, plus some unexpected electric work too. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2009 by M. Fairbairn
new level of creativity
If you are new to Martin Simpson, for me the best album to start with is Kind Letters. But if you are already familiar with the beauty and range of his guitar work and want to hear... Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2009 by Adrian Holmes
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