BLOWZABELLA - Two Score
Private Label
Even at a time when there is no shortage of long-serving bands celebrating notable anniversaries, a 40th birthday offering from Blowzabella is something to savour. The architects of the famous Wall of Sound have been rounded up - those of them who can be - and they still sound great.
The band has had its changes of personnel, of course, but some elements have remained constant. Those include the prominence of a variety of bagpipes and the hurdy-gurdy as played by Gregory Jolivet, the man largely responsible for the French flavour of the ensemble. It you wanted an album to use as a soundtrack in opposition to Brexit, this would be it.
The other consistent principle is that the band’s music should be suitable for dancing. If they sound a little more measured than once they did, that is probably out of consideration for dancers who no longer go for it quite as headlong as previously. For an example of the multi-layered exploration of the possibilities, try The Grenoside Processional Dance. Fascinatingly, this was created by band member Dave Shepherd's father, Dick, in 1951 to accompany the village's sword dance - music to have your head ceremonially removed to.
It's fair to say that Blowzabella has been more renowned for their instrumental rather than their vocal prowess. It would be a scandal, however, to under-rate the contribution of Jo Freya on songs like Adam Was A Poacher.
Get the studio booked for 2028.
www.blowzabella.co.uk
Dave Hadfield
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Many CDs we review are available from The Listening Post. Check to see if this CD is available. The Listening Post is the CD mailorder service of The Living Tradition magazine. This album was reviewed in Issue 124 of The Living Tradition magazine. |