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Elly Roberts reviews
Big Bertha Records
- January 2008
- Rating: 6/10
Hey man, its Folk-hippies, from Cornwall. Lets get happeeeey.,
On Falmouths five – folkies Rosemarie you only have to glance at thetracklisting to twig whats going on here. There are only eight songs. Thats justenough to whet your appetite from this West Country band of retros, whove clearlyhave a thing about the past.
The Falmouth quintet bring things back into the 21st century with a splash ofcolour and class. Truth is this is a little gem, steeped in the defining traditionsof hippydom twisted by trad-folk: a really potent fusion. Whats really coolabout this collection is the lack of pretentiousness as they embrace the pastand thrust it into the future.
Okay, it most likely wont sell bucket loads, but music lovers should have this in their collection – its staying in mine. It conjures up all manner of whimsicalimages: romance, trees, fairies, mist well, I think you know the rest.
Anyway,Thistletown make a real fist of their debut which is full of honeyedmedieval-like harmonies, drones, etc, bringing authenticity to everything theydeliver, via instruments such as lute, harmonium, accordion, mandolin, saz,cittern and others . Theres also a touch of Simon & Garfunkels Parsley, Sage,Rosemary and Thyme found on Dance With The Sea, a traditional song.
Opener Rosemarie sets the scene perfectly with Tiffany Bryant (or LydiaTweddell – see, even the names fit the bill), adding her dulcet tones to theacoustic/electric romp. For Gloworm they drop the pace, adding some nifty brassto the charming sway. Should you ever go camping, then Under The Trees is perfect to dance around the glowing camp fire – I can just see the images rightnow.
Labyrinth skips to a groovy beat and sublime flute drop-ins, while Tiffand Lyd drench it with some gorgeous vocal textures. After the drone-like Moon Is A Pearl,they use what sounds like rain effects to thread the wishful The Sun Is Coming Up,one of their simplest songs here, even if the lyrics dont add up to much morethan repetition of the title.
File under: Take it camping, and dont forget the joss sticks!
Weblink:myspace.com/thistletown
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Rosemarie
2. Gloworm
3. Under The Trees
4. Dance With The Sea
5. Labyrinth
6. Oak And Ash
7. Moon Is A Pearl
8. The Sun Is Coming
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.