Meridian, their baritone and their pianist do full and valorous
service to the cause of the chlorophyll-rich and ever-leafy
renewal of British song. There’s no flinching here – not a single
song from the standard repertoire. These settings are approachable
and engage both mind and heart without ducking a challenge along
the way.
The Power and Armstrong songs recall the best song-writing qualities
of two British Bushes: Alan in declamatory flood and especially
Geoffrey in tellingly poetic word-setting. The engagement with
words is unshakable. Lancaster recalls the chillier Finzi (Channel
Firing) and Holst (Betelgeuse). The Japanese
Songs by Richard Whalley are more dissonant and dankly
reflective than the Lancaster, Armstrong and Power works. Even
so, a little listener application yields rewards.
Peter Reynolds’ extended tripartite song is also deadly serious,
as befits the subject of infant death although there is much
here that is extremely touching, as at 2:49. This is in a fine
tradition also inhabited by a number of Finzi’s melancholy songs.
Steve Crowther’s song-cycle sets some grittily tough words without
a blink – brace yourself for Junkie – the song equivalent
of Film Noir and Punk. No greenswards or ivory
towers here. By vivid contrast the occasionally sing-song William
Rhys Meek’s Winter is a Slow Death Waiting reaches
out across the centuries to clasp the hands of Eric Coates and
Ivor Novello. Michael Parkin studied with William Mathias and
Jeffrey Lewis. His Three Songs indulge furious
action and approachably protesting angularity. There’s Pierrot-like
reflection in the central song.
Good English-only notes appear in the booklet in legible orthography
across a full 16 pages. The sung texts are there, though not
always in full.
Paul Carey Jones and Ian Ryan are skilled and sensitive artists.
Jones inflects and colours his voice in proportion to the sentiment
of the words - there’s nothing emotionally flat about his readings
or those of Ryan. We should be looking out for further recordings
from this team.
The present CD augurs well both for the diversity of British
song production and for the quality of its exponents.
Rob Barnett
Track-List
David Power – Eight Evening Songs. 2004-2007
1. Don’t Touch - (David Russell) 1.30
2. Kinds of White - (Ana Eulate trans. Alan Dunnett) 1.26
3. Aurora - (E.H. Visiak) 2.12
4. The War Ants - (E.H. Visiak) 0.41
5. Did I dream You? - (Carolyn Doyley) 1.47
6. The Waiting - (Jane MacNamee) 1.54
7. A Marble - (Ernst Meister trans. Richard Dove) 1.44
8. Give the Questioning Winds Outside (Ernst Meister trans. Richard Dove) 0.49
Tom Armstrong – Opened Spaces. 2007
9. London Song - (Jim Morris) 2.12
10. Song of Inishmaan - (Jim Morris) 1.48
David Lancaster – Memory of Place. 2010
11. Frozen - (Daniela Nunnari) 1.59
12. Floating - (Daniela Nunnari) 5.40
13. If Wishes were Willows . . . - Waiting. 2010 (Daniela Nunnari) 1.52
Richard Whalley – Six Songs of Old Japanese Wisdom. 2007
14. Wisdom - (Issa trans. Earle Joshua Stone) 1.23
15. Life - (Issa trans. Earle Joshua Stone) 0.50
16. Beauty - (Issa trans. Earle Joshua Stone) 1.45
17. Instinct - (Issa trans. Earle Joshua Stone) 1.09
18. Reflection – Part One 2.09 (Issa trans. Earle Joshua Stone)
19. Reflection – Part Two 1.26 (Issa trans. Earle Joshua Stone)
20. Wisdom - (Issa trans. Earle Joshua Stone)1.51
Peter Reynolds – Adieu to all Alluring Toys. 2011
21. Adieu to All Alluring Toys – (anonymous) 4.32
Steve Crowther – Songs for Don. 2007
22. Roses, Wild Thyme – (Don Walls) 1.36
23. Recovery – (Don Walls) 2.44
24. For Mr L. – (Don Walls) 2.54
25. My Bad Manners – (Don Walls) 0.58
26. Beggar – (Don Walls) 1.27
27. ‘Junkie’ – (Don Walls) 1.42
28. For Mary – (Don Walls) 4.20
William Rhys Meek - Winter is a Slow Death
29. Winter is a Slow Death Waiting – (Stephen James Meek) 3.46
Michael Parkin – Three Songs. 2001 - 2009
30. She being Brand new; - (e.e. cummings) 2.05
31. What he Said – (Maturai Eruttalan Centamputan) 2.35
32. The Mersburger Bridge – (traditional) 3.03
Paul Carey Jones (baritone)