This
is a fine disc from Dunelm. Paul Martyn-West has a gentle voice
- soft-toned, evocative and uniquely pleasantly. He has excellent
enunciation, well-controlled vibrato and a deep love and knowledge
of English solo song that shines through. Martyn-West is extremely
good at bringing out the emotions, nuances and meanings of the
texts – listen to his convincing distress: “Uncle, dear Uncle,
have you heard what I've done?” in The Shooting of His Dear,
or the audible pain and anger at the recollection of having
his horse badly treated in I had a little pony, with its admirable emphasis on “whipped”
and “lashed”. Whilst he shows himself perfectly capable of capturing
sombre atmospheres, as in Warlock’s Three Songs and a
suitably dramatic and intense The Fox, he is particularly
effective in the more boisterous numbers, such as The Bold
Richard. His characterisations are impressive and often
amusing – listen to his old woman in There was an old woman
and the wonderful petulance in I won't be my father's Jack. His pacing,
also, is spot-on – he neither rushes nor lingers too long. How
many miles to Babylon? – a charming gem of a song – is a
good example of this, with its dramatic pauses.
Candlelight - Warlock’s cycle of nursery rhymes - is superbly performed.
Martyn-West captures the sense of fun in these. There was a man of Thessaly is brilliantly
performed, for example, as is the wild and dramatic Arthur
o' Bower.
Geoffrey
Stern – a fellow Warlockian – was a lecturer at the London School
of Economics, and presented the radio programmes 24 hours
and News Night. A great lover of English music, and
particularly Moeran, he played the jazz piano and composed a
range of works from songs and organ music through to a substantial
string quartet. The Stern songs presented here are individual,
attractive and atmospheric, particularly Gentle
Lady. The disc ends with the characterful Legend.
Nigel
Foster accompanies well – sympathetic throughout, and particularly
scintillating in There
was a man of Thessaly. My only criticism would be that the recorded sound does
not do the performers justice. It is not warm or immediate enough,
and on occasion the balance is not quite right. Although the
accompaniment is wonderfully snappy in The Bold Richard,
it is slightly too loud for Martyn-West’s too-distant-sounding
tenor.
The
disc contains a rewardingly extensive programme note by Martyn-West
that is informative, interesting and well-written. The texts
to all the songs are provided. On the other hand the art-work
and design could perhaps be more professional.
This
disc contains a good range of songs, from dreamy and melancholic
through to dynamic and lively, thus demonstrating the versatility
of the artists. Definitely a disc for lovers of English solo
song.
Em Marshall
see also Review
by John France
