Show Of Hands – Roots: The Best Of Show Of Hands

DVDfever.co.uk – Show Of Hands – Roots: The Best Of Show Of Hands CD reviewElly Roberts reviews

Show Of Hands – Roots: The Best Of Show Of HandsDistributed by
Proper Music

• Released: Out Now
• Rating: 10/10
• Vote and comment on this album:View Comments

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For the past 18 years, Show Of Hands,a duo from Exeter Devon has been creating a stir on the modern folk circuit. Known for their whopping tours, they’re actually touring the UK right now (see website below for details).

Phil Beer a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter partner Steve Knightley first met while playing in different bands in Exeter. As teenagers they played the local pub-club circuit for a short period before Knightly shot-off to Coventry University. Beer went straight into the music business performing with Arizona Smoked Review and later with The Albion Band. In the mid 80s both returned to the West Country to live and played together on a casual basis, but by 1991 they soon realised they could become full time, with Beer eventually leaving the Albion Band. Show Of Hands was born.

Roots reflects the immense back-catalogue befitting Britain’s best loved folk duo, with CD 1- Short Stories chosen by Phil and Steve, while CD2 Longdogs is chosen by SOH fans, an internet forum devoted to their heroes, so this a unique package, well away from record company meddling as is often the case with ‘best of’s’.

Long established friend – designer Rob O’Connor has produced a visually stylish CD package.

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On the discs, CD 1 SOH have included their favs from each of the studio albums. The big bonus here is the inclusion of live versions of studio songs – The Blue Cockade, a lush traditional ballad featuring regular fixture Miranda Sykes, one of the best folk songbirds around, Cousin Jack, a melancholic tale about the decline of mining in the region and reluctance of seeking work abroad. One of the best tracks on the entire collection is the Celtic flavoured jig, with Phil’s violin running riot on The Galway Farmer, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in 2001.

Other classics are the title track – Roots – their patriotic take on the state of British music tastes and Country Life about the decline in, well, country life. And, who could fail to fall for the warmth of Santiago? There’s also blistering fiddle exhibitionism by Beer to be admired on The Falmouth Packet.

CD2, fans selection, throws up some interesting choices.

It starts with the haunting live version of Columbus (Didn’t Find America) featuring some exquisite pan pipes by Vladimir Vega that echo around the Royal Albert Hall. Elsewhere we get the deliciously yearning ballad You’re Mine, the dazzling mandolin work, coupled with the melancholic swirls of Beers fiddle playing on Port Isaac.

By far the best choice on disc 2 is the fusion of exotic instruments on The Oak – cuatro, mandocello, fiddle, melodeon, acoustic bass, zamponas, harp and percussion.

The verdict – Sumptuous collection.

Weblink:showofhands.co.uk

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The full list of tracks included are :

Disc 1:

1. Roots
2. Are We Alright
3. Exile
4. Country Life
5. Widecombe Fair
6. The Falmouth Packet / Haul Away Joe
7. Santiago
8. Armadas
9. The Blue Cockade
10. Crow on the Cradle
11. The Preacher
12. Cousin Jack
13. Cold Frontier
14. Hard Shoulder
15. Captains
16. The Galway Farmer

Disc 2:

1. Columbus (Didn’t Find America)
2. You’re Mine
3. The Blind Fiddler
4. The Setting / Mary From Dungloe
5. The Bristol Slaver
6. Port Isaac
7. The Train / Blackwaterside
8. Be Lucky
9. Longdog
10. The Keeper
11. The Downeaster ‘Alexa’
12. The Oak
13. Innocents’ Song / Gwithian
14. Tall Ships

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