Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Product Description
England's finest roots duo weave a touch of Folk, a hint of Blues and a tiny pinch of Country into their new studio album. Born out of a love of both English and North American acoustic and roots music, 'Wake the Union', the eagerly awaited new Show of Hands studio album takes a journey through the heart of two landscapes united by a common tongue and musical heritage. Produced by Mark Tucker, the 15 tracks feature themes and styles that alternate between the two countries. In the first three songs the Knightley/Lakeman co-write 'Haunt You' tells a tale of a tormented seafarer, whilst the new Knightley-penned track 'Company Town' shows a Tom Waits influence and the festival favourite 'Now You Know' implores a lost love to return to the West Country to rekindle a relationship. Celebrating 20 years as a unit with a 4th sell-out appearance at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year, Steve Knightley and Phil Beer have enlisted an impressive array of guest musicians on the recording including Martin Simpson, Seth Lakeman, BJ Cole, Andy Cutting, Bellowhead's Paul Sartin, Cormac Byrne and Canadian Leonard Podolak, and as ever Miranda Sykes adds her wonderful double bass and vocals.
Review
'....The new album is great, live tracks 5, 8 and that end of show goodnight one will be so good as an encore - you'll have em all singing along.' --Johnnie Walker - BBC R2
'...when Knightley does flex his muscles, the impact is all the greater.' --Colin Irwin, Mojo
'...when Knightley does flex his muscles, the impact is all the greater.' --Colin Irwin, Mojo
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
For a number of years I've been following Show of Hands as I'm a huge fan of their type of music having grown up in the Lake District with a few folk clubs. So having enjoyed previous titles they've produced, I was looking forward to the latest one and have to say that for me its one of their best to date. That takes you through the full emotional spectrum whether you want the emotional turmoil presented within "Katrina" or "Coming Home" through to the heartache with "Cruel River" and "Seven Curse"s alongside anger in the "I Will Haunt You."
Yet for all that the Album has its uplifting tracks and the wonderful musical talent goes within through a very unique combination of Blues, Folk and a touch of Country that brings the best of all together. All in this is a top notch album that includes tracks that you'll sing along to as well as listen to the lamentation. Great stuff and an album that will be listened to quite a few times.
Yet for all that the Album has its uplifting tracks and the wonderful musical talent goes within through a very unique combination of Blues, Folk and a touch of Country that brings the best of all together. All in this is a top notch album that includes tracks that you'll sing along to as well as listen to the lamentation. Great stuff and an album that will be listened to quite a few times.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Valley Man
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a great fan of Show of Hands, but can't help being disappointed with this latest offering.
They've always had some great songs that have stood out on earlier albums, eg the title track from AIG, Country Life, Roots etc etc, but this album has no such track. Yes, the opener Haunt you is a good track but Seth Lakeman's version on his own album is better. 'Katrina' and 'Stop copying me' are also fine enough, the later incorporating some of the humour that is occasionally present in Steve Knightley's lyrics.
There is a tilt to the US in this album, as evident from the cover, but I wish they had stuck to the their traditional English roots in the style of songs. The arrival of Country & Western style slide guitar is a very worrying development. Very evident in 'Who gets to feel good' and in my opinion an awful song. It just grates on me. Please lads, leave that stuff to Messrs Wynette and Parton.
I hope that this is just a temporary set back and the next album will be back to their English Roots - after all they wrote a song about it!
They've always had some great songs that have stood out on earlier albums, eg the title track from AIG, Country Life, Roots etc etc, but this album has no such track. Yes, the opener Haunt you is a good track but Seth Lakeman's version on his own album is better. 'Katrina' and 'Stop copying me' are also fine enough, the later incorporating some of the humour that is occasionally present in Steve Knightley's lyrics.
There is a tilt to the US in this album, as evident from the cover, but I wish they had stuck to the their traditional English roots in the style of songs. The arrival of Country & Western style slide guitar is a very worrying development. Very evident in 'Who gets to feel good' and in my opinion an awful song. It just grates on me. Please lads, leave that stuff to Messrs Wynette and Parton.
I hope that this is just a temporary set back and the next album will be back to their English Roots - after all they wrote a song about it!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Inducker
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the Best Show of Hands album I've heard- though I haven't heard everything they've done so I can't say it's their absolute best. Initially I thought they might be padding it out with some re-cycled stuff-"Cruel River" was the the title track on one of Steve Knightley's (great) solo albums and "Haunt You" has already appeared on a Seth Lakeman CD. These versions are sufficiently different to justify inclusion and, anyway, you can't really complain about value for money when you've got 15 songs overall. I thought the last effort "AIG" was a bit thin in places but "Wake the Union" is solid quality throughout. The real standout is " Coming Home"-if it doesn't break your heart then you've none to break. It does re- visit already -touched- on -themes in Knightley's work but this one really hits home by being beautifully understated. I've seen some negative comments regarding the fairly strong Americana element but I think that's a bit daft. Fretted instrument based folk music IS an American genre, like it or not, and there's nothing wrong with British artists giving it its due. A reminder that probably none of this would have occured without Dylan is another cover of one of the great man's songs: "Seven Curses." This gives Phil Beer the seemingly traditonal once- an- album opportunity to air his vocal cords, (Comparisons with Ringo end there.) Is that a tenor uke he's playing on this? Actually I rather prefer the version here to the recent one by June Tabor and the Oyster band. As always, Mr Beer's multi-instrumental talents are heard to great effect on these songs . This is a suberb album- highly intelligent songs backed by wonderful playing and production.
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By belvoirman
Format:Audio CD
The guitar on the album cover cleverly visually depicts what this album is all about;contrasting USA influences like The Stars and Stripes and Route 66;with English themes like the Union Jack and A303. 3 years since the release of their last fantastic album, Arrogance,Ignorance and Greed, this record has a wider range of supporting musicians. The core trio of key songwriter and main gravelly voiced singer Steve Knightley with talented multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer and the ever dependable Miranda Sykes on Double Bass, are here accompanied by a wider range of guest musicians , including Seth Lakeman on Viola, Martin Simpson on Slide Guitar, Andy Cutting on Melodeon ,BJ Cole on Pedal Steel Guitar, Leonard Podolak on 5 String Banjo,Phil Henry on Dobro and Hannah Martin on Fiddle.
A number of songs are written from their well established west country background perspective, such as Now You Know( a love song to their homeland ),Cruel River(about the Dart), and Home to a Million Thoughts ( a nice tribute to a local museum in Exeter). In contrast other songs have clear Americana roots,Company Town tells the story of a community's demise when the main employer collapses;Katrina has a ghostly spooky arrangement about the impact of the hurricance of that name,while Aunt Maria recounts Cecil Sharp collecting traditional songs from the USA.... Read more ›
A number of songs are written from their well established west country background perspective, such as Now You Know( a love song to their homeland ),Cruel River(about the Dart), and Home to a Million Thoughts ( a nice tribute to a local museum in Exeter). In contrast other songs have clear Americana roots,Company Town tells the story of a community's demise when the main employer collapses;Katrina has a ghostly spooky arrangement about the impact of the hurricance of that name,while Aunt Maria recounts Cecil Sharp collecting traditional songs from the USA.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wake the Union
Great music and a great band. Feels like you know the music already. I would love to go and see them
Published 2 days ago by sansbyfam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good
Great album - really happy with it.
I like Show of Hands and this is another good album of there's.
I like Show of Hands and this is another good album of there's.
Published 1 month ago by Gary Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Album!
Wonderful from start to finish, this is a truly brilliant selection of original material. The band are great live and this album captures the essence of the band perfectly. Read more
Published 2 months ago by John Sandford
5.0 out of 5 stars
Transatlantic folk mash-up
This works far better than perhaps it should at first glance (or listen), and is a seamless transition from some authentic sounding Americana and SoH tradition - pointed social... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Stephen C. Boxshall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
SOH as always, exceed one's expectations with every new release. Music and lyrics seem heartfelt and continue to make one think, laugh and cry, who else does that? No-one.
Published 2 months ago by Carol Heslop
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
I bought this after hearing S of H on Radio 2, I've followed them a bit, and got a few albums, but this is probably their best album! Brilliant!!
Published 2 months ago by Mrs Kathryn Holtham / Peter Holtham
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but they've been better
This is a lovely album. Nice to put on and chill out with. However, I like Show of Hands when the anger flows and it is not the ethos of this album.
Published 2 months ago by P. Malcolm
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another thoughful CD from Show of Hands
This is pretty typical of Show of Hands . Their style is well known and loved amongst Folk Fans and this is what you get.
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Keith D. Elms
5.0 out of 5 stars
TOP CLASS
This is another top class Album from Show Of Hands,some great tunes as always,coming home stands out,this group should be giants
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. K. Pottinger
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wake the Union
I love Show of Hands - their music is so inspiring and echoes my political leanings but at the same time is fantastic just to listen to.
Published 4 months ago by Jennyhaines
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
