Album review: KRIS DREVER – Best Of
Website [Release date 19.05.23]
Kris Drever has now made five solo albums (debuting in 2006 debut with ‘Black Water’), as well as five studio albums with the folk trio Lau, and recordings with various collaborators including Fine Friday, Roddy Womble and Boo Hewerdine. The are 36 songs spread over two discs including three new songs, which round off the collection on disc two.
Kris Drever has a what you’d term a traditional Scottish folk vocal, distinctive on the lyrics and with a sound gentle on the ear, yet never losing the listener’s attention. ‘Harvest Gypsies’, ‘Navigator’ and the Lau tune, ‘Unquiet Grave’, are prime examples of this.
Highlights are many, including the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Original Song winner 2019, ‘Scapa Flow 1919′, based on the scuttling of the German naval fleet. The Lau track ‘She Put On Her Headphones’ is as the song title suggests, a treat to listen to on the headphones. Also worth a mention is ‘When The Shouting Is Over’, from the EP Kris Drever recorded with Boo Hewerdine. A song that sounds both old and modern at the same time.
‘Punchbag’ is the pick of the new songs, with its emotive delivery and lyrics. ‘Catterline’ is one of those songs that could easily appeal to those who don’t consider themselves lovers of folk music (and why would you?!). Gentle melody, aided by the vocals of Rachel Lightbody.
A perfect introduction and wide-ranging overview of Kris Drever’s music, which has the added bonus of including a few tracks by Lau. ***1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
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