Quick plays: PILGRIMS’ WAY, RICHARD THOMPSON

PILGRIMS’ WAY Stand & Deliver [Release date 20.10.1]

Pilgrims’ Way are a four piece folk band, although they take folk as their starting point and add in pop, West End showmanship and more into their musical pot. This album as the title suggests is a collection of songs about highwayman and all the songs, bar the title track, are traditional songs given the Pilgrims’ Way treatment.

‘Ibson, Gibson, Johnson’ recalls Fairport Convention, especially in the singing of Jon Loomes. ‘Cadgwith Anthem’ is a lovely choral piece backed by piano – shades of another folk rock great here, namely Steeleye Span.

‘Saucy Bold Robber’ has new member Jude Rees on lead vocals singing over a doom metal arrangement, albeit one played on fiddle and drums! Fancy some disco vocoder? Funny you should ask that as that’s what they use on ‘Turpin Hero’ backed by a lively beat.

Of course the album’s title track is a cover of the Adam & the Ant classic which gets a tounge in cheek folk over. One that would be great to hear performed live by the band.

Enjoyable folk music from a band who clearly love their traditional music and having a little fun with it along the way. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

RICHARD THOMPSON Acoustic Rarities Beeswing Records [Release date 06.10.07]

Hot on the heels of August’s ‘Acoustic Classics Vol. II’, Richard Thompson now releases a collection unreleased songs and songs that have only been previously been covers of his songs by other artists.

The album covers many moods, be it the melancholy reminiscing on ‘They Tore The Hippodrome Down’ (something many people of a certain age can relate to), or the uplifting ‘Rainbow Over The Hill’ (covered by the Albion Band). Fun to be had on ‘Alexander Graham Bell’, with a superb piece of jazz playing midway through. There is a Fairport Convention connection on here as he does a lovely version of ‘Sloth’.

Throughout the whole album Thompson’s singing and guitar playing captivate the listener’s attention. The term musical legend is bandied around a lot, however Richard Thompson is a true musical legend and this album just goes to highlight the breadth and depth of his songwriting skills and playing.

Definitely one for his many fans as the album’s title says it is full of rarities and thankfully they get an airing now. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)