Album review: THE MAGPIE ARC – Glamour In The Grey

Collective Perspective [Release date 07.07.23]

Now here’s a listen. I didn’t quite know what to expect from this band. From the name, it could be an alt-rock band couldn’t it? From the opening track ‘All I Planted’ it is immediately apparent that this could be a heavied up Steeleye Span, a rumbustious blend of power chords and fol-de-rol.

The vocals are from the very capable Nancy Kerr and she immediately brings to mind a Maddy Prior crossed with Annie Haslam. The other band members are also seasoned folkies (three of them share vocals) and include guitarist Martin Simpson who has worked with Albion Band and solo.

After the initial excitement of that opening track, the truth is this debut might be a bit too folk for some rockers and too rocky for some folkies and therefore may satisfy neither. In this context a track like ‘Pans Of Biscuits’ and the closing ‘I Ain’t Going Nowhere’ may be a little incongruous.

I had this issue with Home Service’s latest album which at times wanted to rock out but for the most part played safe with traditional folk, especially in the vocal department.

The wonderful ‘Wassail’ is almost the thrusty sibling of the track of the same name by Big Big Train. Similarly it will certainly make our seasonal playlists (along with their take on Mike Waterson’s ‘Jack Frost’).

‘Tough As Terry Gardner’ rattles along and keeps with the rockier side whilst ‘Long Gone’ has more of a proggy (Annie Haslam) Renaissance feel (or even Fleetwood Mac/The Chain) whilst ‘The Gay Goshawk’ has a rather appealing and insistent folk-rock groove.

There is no doubt that more of the All I Planted/Wassail/Gay Goshawk vibe and this album would have been a real killer.

By mixing it up they continue a folk fusion tradition that stretches back to at least Fairport Convention in the late 1960s. More power to their vision. ****1/2

Review by David Randall

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
RIOGHAN Hands (Inverse 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)