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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Gene Burton Date: 25 Jan 08 - 03:26 PM 101 |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Jon Date: 25 Jan 08 - 03:37 PM This is not true, much of my initial learning came from the folk group popular enough at the time for my parents to record, ie. the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem My then 27? yr old taking up of tenor banjo and trying to find Irish music owes more than anything to the playing of another commercially successful band, ie. the Dubliners and the playing of Barney Mckenna, I've nothing against a groups success. On the other hand, I do worry when I read someone who states he's interviewed things putting these "motives" forwards on others. It probably isn't but the best impression the above attack without knowing the people making the comments is one of vested interests. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Nigel Spencer (cookieless) Date: 25 Jan 08 - 04:05 PM Jeez, what a dreary thread this has become. Isn't it about time to give it a bone? Some of you like the Winterset's music. Some of you don't. Ok. And? Some of you applaud their 'success' (and by 'eck, they're bigger than the Beatles, the little upstarts!). Some of you begrudge it (and what the hell's all that about? Folkies sell more than 500 records? Scandalous! Send the precocious little buggers to the Tower...). Some of you have a problem with their frocks - and of course, folk fans would NEVER sink to the level of OK magazine... Is it not a good thing when musicians and singers primarily doing traditional music get half a sniff at the mainstream - and without resorting to crap tactics like dueting with Cliff Richard or Geri Halliwell to gain acceptance? Are we really such a begrudging bunch of sadsacks, elitists and curmudgeons? For god's sake, enjoy the fact that they're getting played beyond the folk ghetto and the fact that some non-folkies actually like them and fer god's sake stop getting yer greasy old Y-fronts is such a twist! In short, like them or don't like them, but give up all the bitter and twisted bullshit that's pervaded this thread like a bad smell. Folk? I like it 'cos no-one else does! Gimme a break... With all due respect, Nigel Ducks, flinching, and waits for the fallout... |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Cuddles Date: 25 Jan 08 - 04:38 PM I like Belinda and hope she gets on very well solo. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Les in Chorlton Date: 25 Jan 08 - 05:05 PM Good on yer Nigel, god I love music |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: katlaughing Date: 25 Jan 08 - 05:51 PM I'm still waiting to read the pony's "tale.":-) |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Martin. Date: 25 Jan 08 - 09:01 PM I have heard all the youtube stuff, I have also seen them live, reminded me of a junior talent contest, one they din't win, seriosly if this is the future of English Folk music then all is lost. In Ireland I have heard much better from kids having fun in pubs. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Georgiansilver Date: 26 Jan 08 - 12:48 AM Suggest it better not to judge them on their Youtube clips as seeing them live far outstrips their screen persona. I saw them at Rivelin Festival last year and was quite impressed I have to say but there were others with me who found their style a little unusual and asa traditional 'Folkies' were unhappy to accept that they are good. As others have said here....some like them some don't..but whatever anyone thinks...success proves anything of quality to a majority... and they are successful! Best wishes, Mike. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,kate Date: 26 Jan 08 - 06:04 AM >"Success proves anything of quality to a majority" ? Wishful thinking, Mike. It can be bought and manipulated like anything else. I'm not saying the girls themselves did that - I don't believe they did - but the big biz guns behind them have enough clout and enough to gain to generate quite a lot of mileage. I'm not questioning the band's honesty and sincerity for a minute, but commercial incentives riding on them DO make a difference to how far they go. And a lot of the people on this thread are not sneering at them for being successful, just holding the opinion that what they do is not that amazing. (That nasty blank-Guest post at the beginning just sounds like a stupid troll who can safely be ignored, of course they're not shite or anything remotely resembling it.) But all negative reactions are not driven by jealousy or spite or anything else. These performers just don't float everyone's boat. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Jon Date: 26 Jan 08 - 06:39 AM Now we all may be right or wrong with our assessments but. success proves anything of quality to a majority... and they are successful! I guess that's why we get so much virtual reality, etc. on tv. Personally, with any "goods", I believe marketing is the biggest factor in success - I don't believe millions are spent on advertising on tv for example just to let us know a product exists... We have to believe we are being smart in ourselves, knowing for example out of all possible choices of the product, our choice was undoubtedly the wisest, that we are being a good parent if we didn't but this product for them, etc. etc. Of course, if a "product" is to last on the market, it has to meet some "satisfaction standard". And, as it happens, I do believe a "folk audience" is pretty reasonable and discerning (guess I'd have to as folk contains the music I enjoy the most...) . It's just I don't really accept your type of argument. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST Date: 26 Jan 08 - 06:53 AM If it hadn't been for the nasty post you speak of kate, I wouldn't have been drawn out of my cocoon to express my dismay in the first place. Unfortunately, I made some irrational comments along the way and now I feel rather foolish. How many times has my wrath been drawn out of unkind comments? Will I ever learn? Hmm, rhetorical questions. I don't think anyone can expect every artist on the scene to float everyone's boat. It would be a dull world if they did. The thing that I don't understand, is the rejection of this band by some on the basis that they don't think they are any good. I don't want to go on and on and come over as pretentious or stupid, but I've been involved in this music, not as a passing interest, but living and breathing every minute of it (much to the equal doses of dismay and tolerance of a wife of 28 years) and when I first saw this band and heard their recordings, I thought they were nothing short of brilliant, both in terms of musicianship, arrangement and vocal delivery. Becky Unthank is my favourite singer in Britain today. I'm not saying she's better than any of the established singers around, both here and sadly gone (ie Sandy), but having been a lifelong fan of Nick Drake, Tom Waits, Dylan, Neil Young, Joni and currently a huge follower of more recent singers such as Jaymay, Regina Spektor, Devon Sproule, Rosie Doonan, not to mention a skip full of blokes as well, the entire spectrum of colourful tones from these incredible gobs in fact, that I get a bit irritated when people (ie mystery GUEST) replaces 'not to my taste' with 'shite'. I suppose I should say finally that I would rather open my wrists than suffer more than one minute of Wagner or any opera come to think of it. But I have no doubt whatsover, that it's good, brilliant in some cases. Just not to my taste. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Wayne Date: 26 Jan 08 - 07:08 AM Trouble is, Charlotte, I really don't think it's a quality issue. The Unthanks are in good company in getting a shafting on this forum. Kate Rusby, Seth Lakeman, Show of Hands and others have all been abused. The one thing they have in common is their success. There are some very popular and successful folk performers that I wouldn't go and see even if they played a free show in my garden. (Doesn't mean they're crap, though. Just not to my taste). I am, however, delighted that they carry the torch for the music I like to people who wouldn't otherwise hear it. You may not enjoy the Unthanks' music. Good for you, but negativity gets us nowhere. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Jon Date: 26 Jan 08 - 07:23 AM Trouble is, Charlotte, I really don't think it's a quality issue. The Unthanks are in good company in getting a shafting on this forum. Kate Rusby, Seth Lakeman, Show of Hands and others have all been abused. The one thing they have in common is their success I stand to be corrected but I don't recall ever reading Planxty or Bothy Band slammed down here because they had been popular. Dubliners may have (not sure here but I've known it it the 3d world) attracted the odd "yuck", but I've seen more recognition of talent's such as Luke Kelly's and Barney McKenna's than anything else. (And personally, I really do like the way Ronnie Drew can deliver a song, especially ones like Dicey Reilly - I think some songs really do suit him). |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,kampervan Date: 26 Jan 08 - 07:44 AM "I stand to be corrected but I don't recall ever reading Planxty or Bothy Band slammed down here because they had been popular." Give it time Guest Jon. If someone starts a thread to say how good theyare, then rest assured that others will come alingand kick the c**p out of them. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,kampervan Date: 26 Jan 08 - 07:49 AM With apologies for all the typos in that previous message. I hit send before I'd checked it! |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: AllanW Date: 26 Jan 08 - 08:00 AM I actually like 'alingand' and will use it henceforth. Also, I found that I am still a member here after all this time away and didn't need to use 'guest' after all. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Sparkles Date: 26 Jan 08 - 09:00 AM You're reading selectively Wayne. The artists you mention have a lot of fans on this forum who defend them. And as for shafting, haven't you seen some of the stuff that gets said about them in other forums? >There are some very popular and successful folk performers that I wouldn't go and see even if they played a free show in my garden. (Doesn't mean they're crap, though. Just not to my taste). Well that's all that a lot of people are saying here. >You may not enjoy the Unthanks' music. Good for you, but negativity gets us nowhere. Why is it that you're not being negative when you don't like 'some very popular and successful folk performers' but people who don't rave over the Unthanks are? |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's "Philistine" Daughter Date: 26 Jan 08 - 11:34 AM "Why is it that you're not being negative when you don't like 'some very popular and successful folk performers' but people who don't rave over the Unthanks are?" I couldn't said it better, Sparkles. thanks Wayne's remarks remind me of thoise people who if you agree with their tastes in whatever, music, the arts, you have exceptional taste, but if you disagree with them, you're a cultural philistine. Charlotte :-) |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Gene Burton Date: 26 Jan 08 - 11:53 AM "If someone starts a thread to say how good theyare, then rest assured that others will come alingand kick the c**p out of them." Isn't that just human nature, though? If you're going to complain about that, you might just as well complain about the weather. A couple of months ago, an admirer started a thread on here praising my music, and sure enough the negative and abusive posts were soon coming thick and fast...I should know, I read every one. But the correct response to that kind of sledging is laughter; not self-righteous censoriousness (is that a word? it should be!). At the end of the day, if you put yourself on a stage, at whatever level, you expose yourself to the criticism, and perhaps the avarice, of others; and performers (and their defenders) just have to take it on the chin...or get off the stage. Let the baby have its' bottle...(LOL) |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's Apprentice Date: 26 Jan 08 - 01:03 PM Are'nt The Unthank Sisters a bit old for bottles? (though I suppose it depends on what's IN the bottle)*LOL* Charlotte (not into the sauce this early);-) |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Gene Burton Date: 26 Jan 08 - 07:19 PM Well, I wasn't primarily referring to the Unthanks's's's... |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Dave. Date: 26 Jan 08 - 07:35 PM How sad that a few idiots can possibly speak anything possitive about a totally amatuer bunch of enthusiatic girls. take away the piano and winterstet are truly lost. There must be something better to offer the major record labels, perhaps not, the bairns CD I find, to be kind, not very good. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Folknacious Date: 26 Jan 08 - 07:57 PM Everybody has a different opinion, and is entitled to it. Opinions based on anecdote and minimal research are not as valuable as those of people with direct (and sometimes comparative) experience. Still with me? I own "The Bairns", I have enjoyed it, it's not the first British female folk revival work that I'd reach for if required to, but it's original, its heart is in the right place and there's a quality to the singing I find attractive if not technically "good". I've seen Rachel Unthank & The Winterset live. They gave a hard working, professional, entertaining performance that engaged me throughout though I probably would wait some while before seeing them again. I thought Belinda O'Hooley's musical contributions were excellent but her personality interjections got to be a bit tiresome and at odds with the atmosphere of the music. So I suspect that a capable pianist who can add the same to the music but STFU a bit more will eventually make the live performance something which will bear more repeats. The only Folk Award they are nominated for that I'd raise my eyebrows if they win is "Newcomer", since they very clearly aren't. Like Kate Rusby and Seth Lakeman, I'm perfectly happy for them to be an uninformed member of the public's introduction to the possibilities of English folk music. There are far worse. As for floaty dresses, at least they can be bothered to pay attention to what they look like when singing in public. There are many who don't. Either way, it has no bearing on what the music sounds like. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Georgiansilver Date: 27 Jan 08 - 03:37 AM Guest Dave...you suggest >>>>>>take away the piano and the winterset are truly lost<<<<<<<...isn't that the same as saying..... take away the many guitars that folk singers use and they would be lost..... it seems irrelevant to me to make such a statement. They are the sum of their instrument(s) and talent which includes the piano. If the drums had been taken away from the Beatles...I wonder if they would have done as well as they did? |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: AllanW Date: 27 Jan 08 - 04:15 AM Ah, let me add credence to Dave's eloquent description of me as one of the 'few idiots' he speaks of. I must be an idiot and totally insane as I am just about to leave my house and travel 120.35 miles to see these 'lost' people in a charity concert in Newcastle. Why would I do such a thing? Why, to sit in a packed room of fellow 'idiots' and have a wonderful time of course. What are you doing today Dave? scrutinising Mudcat for threads with titles of artists you don't like? Enjoy. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Wayne Date: 27 Jan 08 - 06:37 AM I have to admit that I've not, as yet, heard the Unthanks' music. It may be good bad or indifferent, I really don't know. It just irritates me that so many successful folk acts get a slagging. The point I failed to get across to the Philistine and her coruscating chum is that even if we don't enjoy their music, the fact that any sort of folk music is getting covered in the mainstream press is a good thing. There may or may not be acts more deserving of the coverage but at least the world at large is being made aware that folk is worth a listen. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: The Borchester Echo Date: 27 Jan 08 - 06:52 AM any sort of folk music is getting covered in the mainstream press is a good thing Now THAT sounds horribly like "any old crap is good enough for f*lk". No it bloody well isn't. Smacks of Aran jumpers and MOR wifty-wafty new-age tripe. And don't anyone jump to the conclusion that I'm putting the Winterset in this category. I'm not. If "the world at large" becomes aware of the cultural heritage of England's tradarts, this is a Good Thing. If it continues to think of it as the soft-edged, "f*lksy" fringe of contemporary pop, it is not. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's Apprentice Date: 27 Jan 08 - 02:43 PM "any sort of folk music is getting covered in the mainstream press is a good thing" You must be joking, of course, sunshine? I agree with Diane Easby on this one, you remark DOES smack suspiciously of the "any old crap is good enough for folk"..and if I'd have known you'd not even listened to RU and The Winterset(which I've, at least, made the effort to do)I wouldn't have bothered engaging you in this..ummmmmmm, debate? Charlotte |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Richard Bridge Date: 27 Jan 08 - 04:52 PM I've had a rummage on youtube and there seems to be nothing on myspace. I might quite like them if they got rid of that soddingoverpowering piano. Oh, they did? Whoopee! Nothing wrong withthe pianist but I hate the sound of pianos on folk. It's sooo DRAWING ROOM. I even skip those tracks on the June Tabor CDs I've got. "Miss Barfoot will now sing an English folk song accomapnied by Reverend Beegoode on the pianoforte". I'm outa there before compulsory cucumber sandwiches emerge. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's part time waitress Date: 27 Jan 08 - 04:57 PM "cucumbers are off they ain't in season dearie" *LOL* "Hi My Name is Charlotte and I'm your server for this evening" |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,oldfogie Date: 28 Jan 08 - 02:41 AM I feel that the 'folk scene' is so desperate to have young musicians involved that discrimination goes out of the window as soon as 'young' is mentioned. This is not to say that young performers are all bad it's just that we concentrate on the wrong aspects (ie the young bit). In our desire to 'welcome' new singers/musicians,and doing it without due consideration, we are often doing them a serious disservice by promoting them beyond their actual/potential abilities. Surely it would be better in the long run to consider them objectively and be honest with them-help them where we can but BE HONEST. It would seem to be worse for young performers to be raised so high and then have people 'turn' on them as is happening to some extent in this thread. I am all for a revitalising of the 'folk scene' so long as it is done thoughtfully and considerately. I do like the idea of 'good' young performers (they do help to bring down the average age of 'folkies' if nothing else) and I hope to see more 'young' performers- but lets help them with honesty. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Folkiedave Date: 28 Jan 08 - 03:21 AM I feel that the 'folk scene' is so desperate to have young musicians involved that discrimination goes out of the window as soon as 'young' is mentioned. Discrimination is out of the window as far as age is concerned. They aren't particularly young. Kerfuffle (under 23) might be regarded as young. The fact is they have been around ages, so whilst it might look like EMI engineered instant success to some people, it isn't really. I remember being asked to book them four or five years ago (orginally as a duo), the first record was acclaimed back in 2005 and The Bairns has been licensed to EMI in order to get wider distribution. Yes, that will put them under the promotion of the EMI people but that was theirs and EMI's decision - I cannot see what harm it does. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Giant Folk Eyeball (inactive) Date: 28 Jan 08 - 04:30 AM I'm struggling with this 'tainted by EMI' thing too... am I not right in thinking that most of the classc folk rock in the early seventies was on fairly major labels? Are we saying folk should only be promoted via, at best, self-released eight track cartridges and at worst, small independent labels? I know that the majors will drop 'em like hot cakes if they don't sell enough, but major label flirtation with folk is hardly anything new. They may not be everyone's cuppa (I quite like them, but the Bairns wouldn't ever be the first CD I reached for), but I'll say it again: there's some right spurious, irrelevant crap on this 'ere thread. Come on, people: get a grip! Cheers Nigel |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Banjiman Date: 28 Jan 08 - 05:13 AM Let's be realistic, the vast majority of performers would like to think that they could get major label distribution if they were honest with themselves. I stand by my earlier comment that I don't get RU & TW......but I'm not saying they're rubbish.....I just have a complete phobia about pianos in folk music (do I need treatment?). |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Giant Folk Eyeball (inactive) Date: 28 Jan 08 - 05:57 AM Paul... no major treatment necessary (no surgery, for instance), but a short course of 'hammond organs in folk' may help relieve symptoms. Shelagh McDonald's version of 'The Dowie Dens of Yarrow' from the Stargazer album should do it. Take three times a day until further notice. Cheers, Nigel |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Jon Date: 28 Jan 08 - 06:20 AM What is probably my favourite folk LP used piano accompaniment. Noel Hill, The Irish Concertina. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: mandotim Date: 28 Jan 08 - 07:40 AM I'm not keen on pianos in folk unless it's Beryl Marriott. Tim |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: The Borchester Echo Date: 28 Jan 08 - 08:00 AM Beryl Marriott indeed. And: Sandy Denny Gareth Kiddier Reg Hall Huw Warren Mark Emerson Daisy Bulwer Heather Horsley Eliza Carthy Helen Watson Jon Boden Colin Cotter Jim Moray Ken Lees Ian Carter Sue Bainbridge Have I missed anyone? Probably . . . |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Banjiman Date: 28 Jan 08 - 08:07 AM ....and some of Diane's suggestions I like (even love) DESPITE the piano......but (the one's I've heard anyway) aren't over reliant on keyboards. Should this be a separate thread....keyboards in folk music or something? Paul |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Dave Sutherland Date: 28 Jan 08 - 09:21 AM Just before it becomes a separate thread - Josie Keegan |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Laptop no cookie Date: 28 Jan 08 - 11:18 AM Well, I travelled from Whitstable to Wiltshire to see them and would do again. First saw them at Warwick a couple of years ago, bought their first album then and the second at Cheltenham I think, when we saw them last year. (Getting on a bit memory going you know). I think their sound is superb and evocative of their Northeastern roots. The Sisters are steeped in the tradition, the Unthanks are a 'folk' family. And it's Bravo to them that they can bring the songs out with a new freshness and honesty. It's great to see anyone getting up on stage with a degree of 'performance' and not just the old jeans and teashirt and here's my stuff thing. I wasn't keen on Belinda at first either but The Bairns wouldn't have been as wonderful without her piano her songs and her voice. Am speechless at some of the stuff up on this thread. I have a feeling that the moaners up there are the precious people who traipse into the folk club room just before the 'turn' so they don't have to 'suffer'the floor singers. Alan Clayton |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: mandotim Date: 28 Jan 08 - 02:21 PM One more piano player I like; Julie Matthews. Tim |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST Date: 28 Jan 08 - 04:21 PM "I have a feeling that the moaners up there are the precious people who traipse into the folk club room just before the 'turn' so they don't have to 'suffer'the floor singers" Ooops me thinks your feelings just failed you, sunshine*LOL* Charlotte (a floor singer in her time) |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Tootler Date: 28 Jan 08 - 04:26 PM Nothing wrong withthe pianist but I hate the sound of pianos on folk. It's sooo DRAWING ROOM... Who's to say it's not an appropriate instrument for folk? Years ago when everything was perfect, the piano was not unknown among the generation(s) to which the source singers belonged. Back on topic, I heard Rachel Unthank sing in a local folk club recently, taking her turn round the room, singing a trad song unaccompanied and those U-tube clips really don't do justice to her voice. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Richard Bridge Date: 28 Jan 08 - 08:24 PM Nothing to do with "appropriate". I just hate them, and that's why. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Folkiedave Date: 29 Jan 08 - 05:42 AM I would have thought hate was a bit strong Richard. I usually apply that word to things like world poverty and war Iraq. And if I tell the truth - winter weather in summer. Just playing Sharon Shannon GRACD226 "Each Little Thing". One track credits Graham Henderson, Hammond Organ. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's non pretentious Apprentic Date: 29 Jan 08 - 12:25 PM "Nothing wrong with the pianist but I hate the sound of pianos on folk. It's sooo DRAWING ROOM..." O how too too Richard, old bean...*LOL* Charlotte (has never been to a drawing room soireee and doesn't know the Rev. Begoode) |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: GUEST,Robert Date: 30 Jan 08 - 06:29 PM I've never been too keen on Folk (or what I've heard of it over the last forty years), although I wouldn't criticise anyone who gets pleasure from the genre. Perhaps I'm proving the point of those expressing negative opinions of the Unthanks, but I was actually quite surprised when I became aware that they were deemed to be Folk. My introduction to their music was a combination of seeing their ad in Songlines and, some months later, deciding to see if they had any audio samples on Myspace. They did, and I was hooked from the first few bars of Felton Lonnen. To draw a somewhat obscure comparison, the eerie atmospherics of the song reminded me of an old Bobbie Gentry LP I had as a kid (& I don't like Country music, either). Rather than buying "The Bairns" (the Phill Jupitus recommendation put me off), we went to see them at The Round in Ouseburn. A pretty small venue, very cosy, not that which you would associate with apparently overhyped EMI quislings. I had a daft grin on my face for the duration. Highly entertaining, great banter, a good long show and it isn't often that you end up waiting in the interval toilet queue with half the band you've paid to see. Not that I see that as a particular advantage, of course. I couldn't fault the quality of the musicianship or singing and the acoustics in the venue were spot on. As a result of that show, I bought both their albums. Enjoyed both but with a preference for the newer one. Not being a Folk expert, there may be scores of superior performers out there, but if I can't listen to Fareweel Regality without getting a lump in my throat, they must be doing something right. My only criticism would be the length of one or two of the songs. I'm sure that, as has been suggested, O'Hooley's contribution has done a lot for them but only time will tell if her absence will disadvantage them. I'm surprised by the criticisms of their voices. Rachel's is full of character and energy, while Becky's breathy soulfulness provides a great contrast and complement. In particular, the younger sister's voice is a revelation in the live setting. Oh, and where's the evidence for their supposed problems with keeping in tune? More recently, I got an e-mail inviting me to their pre-tour gig in a tiny cinema in Newcastle. By the time I rang for tickets, I figured they'd have sold all 50 of them but I tried anyway. Somewhat surprised to find myself talking to Rachel, who then put me through to Adrian the manager. Very corporate EMI, I don't think. For me, it's been a breath of fresh air to be able to enjoy something from the Folk genre that is outside of the holy trinity of Carthy, Waterson and, erm, Carthy - and neither a finger in the ear nor a whiny Norfolk accent. Mind, I still prefer The Fall. |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: Abdul The Bul Bul Date: 31 Jan 08 - 08:46 AM Hi Charlotte, I'm not sure what you mean. I wasn't getting at floor singers but the folk who stay in the bar till they've finished and then crash through just before the guest. For I am one of those floor singers. Alan Clayton |
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Subject: RE: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset From: BB Date: 31 Jan 08 - 11:33 AM GUEST, Robert, I've nothing against Rachel and The Winterset, but you really should get out more if you think that the Carthys and the Watersons are all the other folk music that's available! Or that it's all 'finger in the ear or a whiny Norfolk accent'! You've only got to read a lot of what's on Mudcat to find that there is far more to the folk genre than that. If you're prepared to look and listen, enjoy your voyage of discovery! Barbara |
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