Ashley Hutchings : Street Cries
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cd cover Ashley Hutchings et al
Street Cries: A collection of dark traditional songs reset in the present day by Ashley Hutchings (Topic Records)
$17.99

An album conceived and produced by Ashley Hutchings, who has re-written a dozen traditional songs and set them in the present day. Sung by Coope, Boyes & Simpson, Steve Knightley, Cara Dillon, Dick Gaughan, Helen Watson, Vin Garbutt, Judy Dunlop, Dave Burland, Kathryn Roberts with Equation, John Tams, June Tabor, Pete Morton, Nasreen Shah.

Listen:
Doing Time To Fit Your Crime
Damn The Day
Young Henry Martin
Salford Girls

"Hutchings' boldest work for fifteen years…he's assembled a formidable line-up to set his modern dramas in old clothes into fruition. June Tabor's These Cold Lips is a grisly fable based on All Things are Quite Silent with a shattering impact virtue of Tabor's chilling performance, while Dick Gaughan's version of the re-invented Henry Martin conveys the intensity and moment of traditional balladry at its finest. Hutchings has done a formidable conversion job, maintaining the essence of the original ballads. A fascinating experiment executed with passion and real care." fROOTS

From the record label:
Sung by Coope, Boyes & Simpson, Steve Knightley, Cara Dillon, Dick Gaughan, Helen Watson, Vin Garbutt, Judy Dunlop, Dave Burland, Kathryn Roberts with Equation, John Tams, June Tabor, Pete Morton, Nasreen Shah.

An outstanding new album conceived and produced by one of the most significant creators in the folk music field. Traditional music has always changed and adapted to fit and respond to the society that it reflects. Ashley Hutchings has re-written a dozen traditional songs and set them in the present day - don't be alarmed, the experiment has worked beautifully and the results may well pass into tradition themselves.

Each song is based on a traditional work and has retained the original tune - only the words have been changed. A cast of major contemporary interpreters of traditional song was chosen, song by song, and each has contributed mightily - producing a program of outstanding performance. In addition to that, the sensitive arrangements and backings have enhanced the whole project still further - producing an album that is both adventurous and highly enjoyable.

Tracks

  1. John Tams, Barry Coope, Jim Boyes & Lester Simpson vocals
    Doing Time To Fit Your Crime
  2. Pete Morton vocal & guitar Joe Broughton fiddle
    Damn The Day
  3. Cara Dillon vocal & whistle Seth Lakeman violin & guitar Sam Lakeman harmonium, keyboards & programming
    He's Young But He's Growing
  4. Dick Gaughan vocal & guitar
    Young Henry Martin
  5. Helen Watson vocal & harmonica Ken Nicol guitars Pete Zorn baritone sax Ashley Hutchings acoustic bass Neil Marshall drums
    Salford Girls
  6. Judy Dunlop & John Tams vocals Phil Beer acoustic guitar Ken Nicol electric guitar Barry Coope keyboard
    He Ran Out Of Road
  7. Steve Knightley vocal & mandocello Pete Zorn alto sax
    Endless Pages
  8. Kathryn Roberts with Equation: Kathryn Roberts vocal, piano & clarinet, Sean Lakeman acoustic, electric & bass guitars Iain Goodhall drums
    A Drummer Won My Love
  9. Vin Garbutt vocal & whistle Joe Broughton fiddle Ken Nicol guitar
    Three Jolly Burglars
  10. Dave Burland vocal Joe Broughton violins Joe Giddey cello String Arrangement by Joe Broughton
    The Shape Of A Girl
  11. June Tabor vocal Mark Emerson piano
    These Cold Lips
  12. Nasreen Shah vocal Ken Nicol guitars Pete Zorn sopranino & alto saxes Ashley Hutchings electric bass guitar John Ball tablas Neil Marshall drums
    I'm A Poor Dress-Maker
"the performances are uniformly excellent" Q Magazine

"The most significant work that Ashley Hutchings has done since 'Morris On' BBC Radio 2" Mike Harding Show

"Without once compromising tradition, Hutchings has brought these age-old songs of the darker side of life into the twenty-first century - the concept is brilliant, the bringing together of such players just blows the mind. A wonderful, wonderful album" Country Music Round Up

"Hutching's project to breath new life into traditional folk tunes and make them more relevant to a modern audience has resulted in an album full of variety.." The County Times

"A lovingly made vibrant album" All Music Guide

"The highlights are almost too numerous to mention" Folk North West

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