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DVDfever.co.uk – Jon Boden: Songs From The Floodplain CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Navigator Records
- Released: March 2009
- Rating: 8/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
New folk. New star.
According to sources, Jon Boden has been shaking things up on the folk scene for quite some time via duo Spiers and Boden and much loved outfit Bellowhead. He also played in Eliza Carthys band The Ratcatchers, until 2007.
Songs From The Floodplain, a kind of concept album, is Bodens second solo album (after 2006s Painted Lady) which draws heavily on traditional flavours.
He has a degree in Medieval Studies from Durham you know, and in Composition For Theatre from London College of Music, so he knows his onions.
His weapon of choice is the fiddle, and hes an accomplished singer too.
Born in Chicago but Winchester (UK) raised, this 32 year-old is nothing short of fearless when it comes to unleashing his take on folk.
Ok, so Songs From The Floodplain isnt a happy one, though it is a profoundly inspiring one in many ways.
His songs are beautifully crafted and deeply emotional, though, sadly, may not make for mainstream listening, simply because of the melancholic reflective nature.
Nevertheless, we musos (theres plenty out there) will appreciate this little gem because of the craftsmanship involved.
In a strange way, they also deliver some sort of hope, so its not all doom-and-gloom. The opening song, We Do What We Can: ..When hard times come knocking / We do what we can… sums up the spirit therein.
Songs is a case of art reflecting life, and as we all know, life doesnt look too rosy for many Brits right now. Visually, hes chosen to have the CD package (and a glossy one it is too) shot in some derelict factory which seems at odds with its shiny cover. Then flick to the lyric sheet for Has-Been Cavalry, where theres a ray of sunshine which sharply glears in and above the watery surface, giving us much needed hope. Its the negativity juxtaposed with positivity thats makes the balance just right, which can be found on the albums final chapter Has-Been Cavalry.
After a pretty downcast (or should that be up cast?) roll of songs, the musical change is obvious via perky Beating The Bounds. But the jewel in the crown comes further in the epic When The Walls Come Tumbling Down. Using all his finely honed compositional skills he injects dramatic colours and passion into this awesome, yes awesome, piece. Instruments do their thing brilliantly, though its the background wind effects that give it a haunting feel.
Another favourite of mine is the divine and simple Dont Wake Me Up Til Tomorrow.
The verdict One of my favourites in 2009.
Weblink:JonBoden.com /NavigatorRecords.co.uk
Radio: Hear tracks soon on THE PLUG atwrexham.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. We Do What We Can
2. Going Down To The Wasteland
3. Days Gone By
4. Penny For The Preacher
5. Dancing In The Factory
6. Beating The Bounds
7. The Pilgrims Way
8. April Queen
9. When The Walls Come Tumbling Down
10. Dont wake Me Up Til Tomorrow
11. Under Their Breath
12. Has Been Cavalry View the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.