Ashley Hutchings - A Midwinter Miscellany
by Zena Grieg
published: 26 / 11 / 2020
Label:
Talking Elephant
Format: CD
intro
Atmospheric and wintry collection of spoken word and song from Fairport Convention founder member Ashley Hutchings, which he has recorded with the singer-guitarists/songwriters Becky Mills and his son Blair Dunlop
Ashley Hutchings, the English bassist, vocalist and songwriter, founding member of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and the Albion Band, has released ‘A Midwinter Miscellany’. This is a seasonal album of mainly new songs written by Hutchings and his special guests, the singer-guitarists/songwriters Becky Mills and Hutchings' son Blair Dunlop. The record also includes some spoken word, poems and stories. Recorded by Dunlop at Hutchings’ Derbyshire home over a couple of days in early autumn, the album explores topics from hibernation and snow to ancient Midwinter customs. Following up on the collaboration of Hutchings and Mills several years ago, when they toured ‘The Beginnings of Fairport,’ a spoken word and song presentation telling the story of Fairport Convention, this latest collection continues the theme of combining words and songs, creating a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and flavours of short winter days, long dark evenings and the celebration of Christmas. It takes excerpts from a wide range of literary sources including George Eliot and Kenneth Grahame, and gives a fresh complexion to other writing by Smart and Chesterton through new music composed by Dunlop and Mills. Highlights of the album include the atmospheric opener, an excerpt from a poem by Christopher Smart blending with Mills’ song ‘Crocuses’ about loss and new life; an evocative reading from George Eliot’s ‘The Mill on the Floss’ by Hutchings in his sonorous baritone; the musical interpretation by Judy Dunlop of William Makepeace Thackeray’s 'Mahogany Tree', her singing accompanied by son Blair on acoustic guitar; and the traditional-sounding but new ‘Christmas Wreath’, words by Hutchings to music by Blair Dunlop, closing the album. Renowned for his work, including in schools, to keep English folk music, dance and traditions alive and vibrant, Hutchings has since the early 80s been organizing a small group of acclaimed folk musicians to tour each December as the Albion Christmas Band. This album, which has the feel of a live performance, presents an entertaining festive celebration of this musical event in this socially distanced time.
Track Listing:-
1 Crocus Poem, Crocuses2 Raggle-Taggle Lad
3 Her Name Was Mary
4 The Mill on the Floss
5 Animals Carol
6 Hibernation
7 Three Angels
8 Sweet November
9 Mahogany Tree
10 Silence of Snow
11 Ancient Midwinter Customs
12 The Christ Child Lay on Mary's Lap
13 Christmas Wreath
Band Links:-
http://ashleyhutchings.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/AshleyHutchings70
Have a Listen:-
soundcloud
reviews |
More Songs From The Shows (2022) |
Autobiographical 100th album from prolific Fairport Covention member Ashley Hutchings |
Street Cries (2017) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewMarika Hackman - Big Sigh
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart