- Audio CD (7 Jun 2010)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: CD
- Label: Rif Mountain
- ASIN: B003E6YBDY
- Other Editions: MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 68,004 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The first time I heard this I thought I must have slipped through a gap in the space-time flux and emerged in about 1969/70, the heyday of English Folk-Rock. This is an astonishingly beautiful record: wonderful choice of songs, beautifully sung (especially the female voices), and subtly arranged. Ever wondered how Fairport's follow up to Liege and Lief might have sounded if Sandy Denny had not left? This could be the answer. The Owl Service appear to be folk musics best kept secret...don't miss out on a truly stunning record.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
What an absolute beauty of a second album. The first thing that hits you is the richness of production and the enveloping feeling of it all. The wonderfully mournful `Banks Of The Nile' is followed by the grin-inducing `Ladies, Don't Go a-Thieving' with its phasing, swirling guitar effects. The interlocking male vocals on `I was a young man' conjure memories of `Morris On' bleeding gently into another striking acapella from Nancy Wallace.
Then comes the killer blow - a truly exceptional reading of `Willie O'Winsbury' with swathes of sitar and delicious burbling Fender Rhodes (?) leading into lovely banjo finger-picking and group vocals that make you want to sign up to this cult immediately. The effortless merging of the voices marries so perfectly to the peerless instrumentation - never is there the feeling that this is anything but a group experience. If this doesn't become a standard for future folk explorers...
`The Bold Poachers' introduces searching strings and earthy woodwind to the mix, book-ended by two vocal and birdsong (!) tunes creating a wonderful song-cycle followed by the sparse `Lover's Ghost' with vocals by Mellow Candle's Alison O'Donnell accompanied by a haunting drone.
`The Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun' has a superb baroque flourish with its harpsichord and brass adding further depths to this treasure chest of song.
It's notable that while the musicianship is exceptional throughout it is never allowed to swamp the voice which is key. You get the feeling that The Owl Service has really come into its own as an organic collective with an album that eclipses even the heights of their wonderful debut `Garland Of Song'. Even more so does this feel like a natural successor to high water marks in folk rock but never derivative. This is an absolute must for your collection if folk music has the slightest resonance in your tastes. And if not, this is a perfect place to start...
Then comes the killer blow - a truly exceptional reading of `Willie O'Winsbury' with swathes of sitar and delicious burbling Fender Rhodes (?) leading into lovely banjo finger-picking and group vocals that make you want to sign up to this cult immediately. The effortless merging of the voices marries so perfectly to the peerless instrumentation - never is there the feeling that this is anything but a group experience. If this doesn't become a standard for future folk explorers...
`The Bold Poachers' introduces searching strings and earthy woodwind to the mix, book-ended by two vocal and birdsong (!) tunes creating a wonderful song-cycle followed by the sparse `Lover's Ghost' with vocals by Mellow Candle's Alison O'Donnell accompanied by a haunting drone.
`The Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun' has a superb baroque flourish with its harpsichord and brass adding further depths to this treasure chest of song.
It's notable that while the musicianship is exceptional throughout it is never allowed to swamp the voice which is key. You get the feeling that The Owl Service has really come into its own as an organic collective with an album that eclipses even the heights of their wonderful debut `Garland Of Song'. Even more so does this feel like a natural successor to high water marks in folk rock but never derivative. This is an absolute must for your collection if folk music has the slightest resonance in your tastes. And if not, this is a perfect place to start...
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've had quite litteraly hundreds of CDs from Amazon (mainly folk rock and acid folk) and this is the first time I've ever bothered to write a review. It's that good. I always felt sad for missing the heyday of folk rock but the crazy thing is that if I'd been around then I'd have missed this. Basically they've taken all those great bands like Trees, pentangle etc and given them the stark beauty of Martin Carthy or Anne Briggs and even added a touch of lovely pagan Wicker Man stuff. And None of it feels copied, like those early bands its all a fresh reworking of old folk. Get the CD direct from the band (look under new and its Riff Mountain) and support the best band in Britain who don't get nearly enough exposure from the corporate machine, probably because they don't fit some radio kick back remit. Just imagine the pleasure you had when you first heard Trees and couldn't believe they didn't make it big back then, this will be the same except you can buy a CD from a band that's actually still going! Big Thanks to Owl Service for making such great Music.
And also get the other CD that goes with this as a companion - the review goes for both.
For those who got the first album its similar but goes more towards the songs turpin hero and katie Cruel, but don't worry the sitars still around!
And also get the other CD that goes with this as a companion - the review goes for both.
For those who got the first album its similar but goes more towards the songs turpin hero and katie Cruel, but don't worry the sitars still around!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
nothing new
A bunch of covers ( Ann Briggs , Martin Carthy , Fairports , etc ), all excellently done , with deep , rich production . But nowt new .I'll stick with the originals .
Published 11 months ago by ben
Beautiful
Another stunning album from 'The Owl Service'. There are no filler tracks here. It's all gold.
The New Wave of English Folk Rock. Read more
The New Wave of English Folk Rock. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Richard Warren
Happy customer !
I ordered the CD "The View from a Hill" from "The Owl Service" at Amazon.co.uk. It arrived within a few days, well wrapped and in excellent condition. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Anuhel
Best new psychedelic folk band!
Just got this in the post this morning, best new psychedelic/ traditional folk band going! Nuff said!
Published 23 months ago by Nicola Dennett
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