Oh,
And I just thought they were nice songs
sorry for my mistake
where did i put my anorak.........
They *were* nice songs.
However, next time you sing 'She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah' try singing
'She Likes You Yes Yes Yes', and while you are it, sing the three yesses
on the same note instead of a descending scale.
That's basically what June's interpretation does with the ballads!
If any sort of informed comment, even half-informed as mine, amounts to
being anorakky then you might as well give up even bothering to listen
or think. I'm aware that Pentangle, Fairport, Steeleye etc altered words
and tunes far more than this - but did so while turning the altered item
into rock or jazz. I probably would never have listened to ballads if
all that existed had been pseudo-authentic MacColl or Scotfolk-revival
Corries versions.
What's excellent about June Tabor's approach is that these are minimal
performances - Martin Simpson on guitar and June singing, one-take,
first-take recording - effectively live. What is deceptive is that such
an approach might persuade the listener that this must also be
authentic; in fact, they are are far removed from the originals as the
folk-rock heyday versions often were.
I'm not dissing the result and the album in on my shopping list, though
I *was* dissing Mike Harding's repetitive incorrect references to
'Border' ballads - still, what would a tyke like Mike know?
(you see, when I make same kind of error deliberately, it stands out!)
