Gleanings: Colin Andrews

2LF 004CD

Colin is a friend, a Chameleonic Morris Men and is active as a researcher, singer, dancer, caller, musician, speaker and writer. I previously reviewed his book Shepherd of the Downs. On his website, www.bonnygreen,co,uk, Colin describes this CD as 16 tracks of  little known traditional or original songs,  and 3 instrumental  tracks featuring original tunes.  

On this CD Colin plays anglo concertinas, melodeons and guitar and is joined on chorus vocals by Sonja Andrews and Dick and Melanie Henrywood. Colin is a fine traditional singer, holding difficult melodies and articulating clearly, (you can understand the words).

The young bucks of the modern commercial folk world need fear no competition  from this release where content triumphs over form, substance over speed. Colin plays the songs and tunes which he enjoys, whether remembered from his college folk club days at Cardiff University, written, set or tweaked by him, or simply those which appeal to his taste (which has been moulded as an active participant in the folk community throughout his life – see website for details).

Colin’s love of morris is reflected in the setting of Young Collins the song to the Morris Tune, William and Nancy the song ,likewise.  Billy Bones and his Dancing Cat has a Music Hall feel to it. The Death of John Lee is reset to a new tune. There are some good folk club stalwarts in here, Farewell to Whaling, Jug of This, Horncastle Fair, and more importantly a number of lesser known songs remembered and nurtured (or composed) by Colin, and here presented in a clear and straightforward performance.

I particularly enjoy the songs in which Colin is joined by chorus in a muted Sussex style which has a haunting quality redolent of my early memories of folk clubs. (I am presently thinking of re-arranging ‘A Good Time Coming’ as a Bluegrass Gospel song!)

If I have criticism of this release it may be that Colin’s humour and sense of fun could have been more to the fore. Sometimes respect for the material sits between the presentation and the listener’s response. There are some excellent songs and interesting tunes here. I am not quite sure whether some of the tweaking and additional verses work. These are small points against the whole.

I might also have preferred slightly less material and more robust production decisions, (in the sense that less could have been more). This thought is set against the ‘collection’ aspect of the release, and the value it presents, (particularly at £7 with £1 UK postage direct).

 Sheila, (my better half who has excellent taste) has been in and out of the room while the CD has been playing and has remarked at how enjoyable it is to listen to. Thank you Colin, I look forward to joining in with some of these when we next meet.

Bill Johnston 2.8.2009

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