Album review: THE YOUNG’UNS – Tiny Notes

THE YOUNG'UNS - Tiny Notes

Hudson Records [Release date 07.04.23]

The Young’uns are never one to shy away from a major musical undertaking as their last album, ‘The Ballad Of Johnny Longstaff’, proved. How do the Young’uns follow that? With this album ‘Tiny Notes’ which takes its title from messages tied to the railings of a bridge in Sunderland. 22-year-old Paige Hunter had written those tiny notes and left them tied to the railings at Sunderland’s Wearmouth Bridge, a location that has tragically been the scene of many suicides.

However, Paige’s messages have saved lives – as many as thirty people have been pushed back from the brink by these notes. Three of these tiny notes are performed by Karine Polwart, Anne Lamb and Lucy Farrell.

The album is a collection of songs that find hope and humanity in grief and despair. From the London Bridge attack to Lockerbie, from Derry to Aleppo, the Young’uns – Sean Cooney, David Eagle and Michael Hughes – entertain and educate the listener throughout the course of the album.

The Young’uns do a capella so beautifully as ‘Roseberry Moon’ and the jaunty opening tarck, ‘Jack Merritt’s Boots’ ably demonstrate. The latter based on Jack Merritt who died in the London Bridge terror attack in 2019. That is part of the album’s magic, that despite the sad stories many of the songs are based on, the music and lyrics give hope and countless stories of humanity.

Piano and strings (arranged by Jon Boden) add that extra bit of musical magic to the likes of ‘The Surgeon’, based on trauma surgeon David Nott who saved the life of a young ISIS fighter. Fair to say this is a song that brings a tear or two to the eyes.

‘Three Dads Walking’ is based on the charity 3 Dads Walking, who each lost a daughter to suicide. 3 Dads Walking want to continue to highlight the fact that suicide is the biggest killer of young people across the entire UK and are walking between the parliaments of the 4 nations to highlight by raising awareness. They hope they can help prevent other families from being devastated by suicide.

One of the finest folk albums that will be released this year. ****1/2

 Review by Jason Ritchie

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30/05 OXFORD North Wall
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01/06 LINCOLN Drill Hall
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Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

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KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
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14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


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