MORE PAGES

I came to know this short-lived British folk-rock group last year when the Finnish label Svart Records re- released the eponymous 1970 debut on vinyl. The similar re-release of this second (and final) album followed a bit later. On its inner sleeve of the gatefold, it circulates the same (Carolyn Attard interview -based) liner notes that John Tobler had written already in 1997 for the first Storyteller (CD) re- release, plus his brief 2022 post scriptum.

Some line-up changes had happened, but the core of the group remains to be the same, namely vocalist Carolyn Attard, lyricist-vocalist Terry Durham and guitar-playing singer-songwriter Roger Moon. The producer Andy Bown's artistic input is notable, he participated in songwriting too.

This album is suitably different from the debut. Sweet string arrangements are gone, and although I did enjoy them, this album benefits from being sort of more amateurish and natural. The set of 12 tracks is nicely varied and often feels good-humoured in a charming way. Carolyn is mostly singing backround/additional vocals, but frankly she's not technically very strong singer anyway. One of the best songs, 'Bosworth Field' (Durham, Moon), started from her idea. The historical drama piece is about Richard III who "wasn't the villain Shakespeare made him out to be". The guesting trumpet gives the song the Tudor-like flavour.

Other highlights include Roger Moon's 'Remarkable', a melodic and emotional male/female duet; the joyful 'Beautiful Affair' that makes me think of LINDISFARNE; 'Wolf in the Water' (Durham, Bown) that is slightly reminiscent of ANTHONY PHILLIPS' acoustic songs; and Bown's calm and melodic 'Name Certainly Rings a Bell'. I also like the contrast between the calmness and the singalong-like chorus on 'Bull Jack'.

The two calm and small-scale final songs are sung by Carolyn alone. 'For You Today' seems to have an elegant mellotron faintly in the background. Mostly the arrangements are kept very simple, acoustic guitar dominated. But the guitars sound pretty nice here.

I have a little complaint about the package itself. First, to get the same long band history oriented liner notes again is frustrating. They don't really deal with this particular album at all (very shortly in the P.S.). Second, I noticed that the running order of Side One is faulty: as for the track No. 4, the 40-second unaccompanied poetry reading of 'Singular Day' (by Durham) is an intro to 'Beautiful Affair' which comes again as the sixth track.

Actually, since both albums are so short, I'd prefer to have a 2-in-1 CD release, and with better edited liner notes. If you're thinking of getting just one of these Svart Records re- release vinyls, have a YouTube listening before you choose.