Album review: PETER KNIGHT & JOHN SPIERS – Both In A Tune

Website [Release date 11.02.22]

Peter Knight defines a progressive musician as he always seeks to further his music, be it traditional tunes given a new arrangement, or his own compositions. Famous of course as a member of Steeleye Span until 2013, after which he has been very busy with Gigspanner (and its Big Band offshoot) and a Knight & Spiers album. The Spiers is John Spiers, co-founder of Bellowhead, and another who keeps busy musically having worked with the likes of Jon Boden, Jackie Oates and more recently, the Gigspanner Big Band.

The duo start the album off with a very familiar tune, ‘Scarborough Fair’. This version highlights two main strengths of the album – the combined playing of these two fine musicians and how they can make the familiar sound fresh & new. Knight’s violin weaves magic surrounded by the melodeon playing of Spiers. It is hard to describe the wonder and beauty of this, and indeed any of the tunes on here, with mere words. It really is a case of let the music do the talking.

Another traditional tune, ‘Yellow Haired Laddie’, whisks the listener away into another aural delight, as is the upbeat fun of ‘Abbot’s Bromley Horn Dance’.

The duo pen their own music too which sees both ‘Drone in D’ and ‘Improv 3’ push the sounds into progressive, freeform territory. Good to see two such experienced musicians still pushing themselves musically and seemingly enjoying themselves immensely in the process.

‘Battle of the Somme’ closes the album on a melancholy note, with the violin playing lending an almost ghostly feel.

It is fair to say any album involving either Peter Knight or John Spiers will be worth investing in. When they combine their talents it becomes a ‘must have’. Listening for pleasure is what an album like this was made for. ****

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)