Seth Lakeman: Poor Man’s Heaven

Elly Roberts reviews

Seth Lakeman: Poor Man’s Heaven
Distributed by
Relentless RecordsCover

  • Released: June 2008
  • Rating: 6/10
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Poster Boy of Folk continues controversy.

For some time now, since the arrival of his 2004’s Kitty Jay and 2005Mercury nominated debut, Devonian Seth Bernard Lakeman has set tongues wagging.

Folk purists are in a bit of a spin as to where his music actually lies. Therewere the Hip Hop nods on Gold selling follow-up Freedom Fields to compound things.To confirm he’d ‘arrived’ he was awarded Singer Of The Year and Best Album at2007’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Poor Man’s Heaven is far more expansive and adventurous still. As theviolinist of the moment, 31 year old Lakeman has bigger ideas – stadium engulfingpower, with a twist.

His intent is there from the start – The Hurlers. Its thumping drum introis the perfect stab start for a radio DJ’s opening shot. Soon the frantic violinkicks – in boosted by a whopping call.. “Come on boys you know where youstand…” on this Irish-tinged monster. The hooks are unrelenting. Therockier template continues Feather In The Storm, like much of his work,it includes story-telling traditions of folk.


The most noticeable inclusion here is the Jimmy Page styled slide guitar andZep-like rock riff, which settles down into a neat Bluesy sway. Things go moretrad for the next two. He introduces splashes of mandolin, accordion and harmonica(Crimson Dawn) though Blood Red Sky has a slightly rockier edgeon ominous Blood Red Sky.

The sad tale of tragic event surrounding the ill-fatedPenlee lifeboat are brought into sharp focus on Solomon Brown, intendedto keep the story very much alive through his deeply emotive lyrics. Again Led Zep (3) influences surface for melodic ballad I’ll Haunt You, whereas Irish jig fuelled Race To Be King is a sprightly andbouncy full-on example of Lakeman’s mastery of folky playing.

For me the weak spots are the title track and laborious Green And Gold,though simple ballad Sound Of A Drum, a reworking of traditional songThe Unquiet Grave, restores the balance, just.

File under: Keeps moving.

Weblink:sethlakeman.co.uk


The full list of tracks included are :

1. The Hurlers
2. Feather In A Storm
3. Crimson Dawn
4. Blood Red Sky
5. Solomon Brown
6. Cherry Red Girl
7. I’ll Haunt You
8. Race To Be King
9. Poor Man’s Heaven
10. Greed And Gold
11. Sound Of A Drum

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