Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies:

Elly Roberts reviews

Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies:
Tenterhooks – The Art EditionDistributed by
Tantobie Records

• Cat.no: TTRCD 106
• Released: August 2005
• Rating: 10/10

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It seems absurdwhen you think of the talentless idiots like Baby Shambles’Pete Doherty making the headlines for all the wrong reasons; it then beggarsbelief that someone like Jez Lowe isn’t getting the general public’sattention.

Here is a man with an abundance of natural talent in everydepartment. Hard-working Lowe has been on the fringe of household fame formany years as a stalwart of the folk scene. Highly respected by critics andfans alike for some wonderful albums and live shows since the mid-80s, his1995 Tenterhooks get a dust down with six bonus tracks from an earlier albumBanners, which lamented the demise of coal-mining in the region.

Emerging from the burgeoning north east England folk scene in the ’80s, this album washis third recording with his band The Bad Pennies – Bev Saunders (vocals/percussion),Bob Surgeoner (double bass and keyboards), Billy Surgeoner(violin/reeds/whistles and keyboards). Many folkies such as the Dublinersand Fairport Convention have covered his songs, so he’s in good company.Previous inspiration was firmly rooted in his native north east, but worldtouring brought a new songwriting palette, a worldlier vision andinspiration which first surfaced on Tenterhooks. These confessional andobservational songs are simply beautiful, both lyrically and melodically.

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Sensitivity drives his vocals at every level as they tenderly float,occasionally giving a nod to tradition, (sometimes to his Irish roots, foundin particular on the jaunty The Guilts) and hint of Scottish leanings allthrown in the mix. The music follows rather than leads. Musicianship is topdrawer and the band gel together perfectly. When individuals get their shotat solos they keep it within the cohesive frame work, and never hog thelimelight e.g. Bait Up. You’ll find brass, violins, flutes, saxophone(sublime solo on A Long Walk Home) and all sorts of sounds, but it’s never acacophony. A children’s choir pop-up to add ambience on an all too brief oneminute thirty two seconds of Ready For Tomorrow. There’s an easy flow fromtrack to track: sometimes you can’t spot the join even though songs arevaried. Despite bringing the genre up to date and timeless at that, he neverloses sight of his folkie sensibilities.

This is the kind of album to getyou ‘into’ folk music, and then spread out to seek the likes of MartinCarthy, Dave Swarbrick, and Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson et al. Notas ‘rootsy’ as the latter artists, he’s got a good ear for bring thingsforward, and this album could be enjoyed by everyone as all tracks areaccessible, which makes the entire CD a dream-like experience.

Finding a highlight is almost impossible as every song is a delight, but as I’m boundto choose, Homefires is outstanding, as is his dueting with Bev Saunders onthe Celtic-tinged Dry Seasoned Land. This album will sound just as great inanother ten years.

A forgotten gem brought back to life – and more.

Verdict – A Real work of art.

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The full list of tracks included are :

1. Sons Of The Century
2. Sweep Horizons Clean
3. Crake In The Morning
4. The Guilts
5. Alibi Child
6. Song Of The Indian Lass
7. Workhouse
8. Aloysius
9. Dry Season Land
10. Bait Up
11. Tenterhooks
12. Homefires / Felton Lonnen / Here’s The Tender ComingBONUS TRACKS – Highlights from Banners

13. Banners Gathering / Slogans Of Labour
14. Weave And Worry
15. Big Meeting Day
16. An Everlasting Drum
17. A Long Walk Home
18. Ready For Tomorrow

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