Home Service - A Live Transmission

by Zena Grieg

published: 19 / 12 / 2024

Label: Talking Elephant
Format: Select Format

Successful and colourful live album from accomplished folk band Home Countiies

Review

A UK folk-rock band with a rich history since the 1980s, Home Service have brought out their first live album, recorded at a number of venues in March 2024. ‘A Live Transmission’ is a mix of popular/well-known Home Service favourites interspersed with new songs brought in by the acclaimed Northeast folk singer Bob Fox, who made his debut with the band in 2023 at the Broadstairs Folk Week. Speaking on the new addition to the seven-member group, founding member Graeme Taylor said: “Bob Fox has breathed new life into Home Service. Armed with his powerful, passionate vocals and a vibrant, updated vision of the band, we are embarking upon an exciting new future together”. The collection is characterised by Home Service’s own innovative blend of electric folk rock. Songs to listen out for in this ten-track collection include: the opener ‘Napoleon’s Grande Marche/Walk My Way’, kicking the album off with the band’s distinctive rock’n’brass sound; the traditional ‘Bonny At Morn’ with its successful fusion of traditional and modern instrumentation; ‘The Road To The North/The White Cockade’, a novel juxtaposition of a composition by Alistair Anderson with a traditional song; the resounding ‘Bramsley’ with an impressive guitar solo by Graeme Taylor; poignant, delicate ‘Snow Falls’, written for the National Theatre’s ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’ in 1978/79 and sung by Bob Fox in the Michael Morpurgo West End production of ‘War Horse’; and the closer, a stirring interpretation of the traditional Scottish tune ‘Battle Of The Somme’. Melodic and rousing, ‘A Live Transmission’ is a welcome addition to this accomplished folk-rock band’s repertoire.

Track Listing:-

1 Napoleon's Grande March/Walk My Way
2 Bonny at Morn
3 The Road to the North/The White Cockade
4 Bramsley
5 Snow Falls
6 Battle Pavanne/Peat Bog Soldiers
7 The Old Man's Song
8 Papa Joe's Polka
9 My Bonny Boy/Scarcrow/The Lark Ascending
10 Battle of the Somme