Folk Acoustic and Traditional Music from Cornwall - Songs from the Hill Volume Four by Various

I looked up the battle honours for the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry, and the song wrote itself”

Second track is a coupling of two traditional tunes, “Morrisons Jig / Over the Hills” by Kerensa Newman, performed on Hammered Dulicmer. Kerensa – “A set of tunes that I don’t seem to be able to stop playing – Wherever I am and Whatever the Situation you can guarantee that this will be on my set list”.

Third track “Torn” comes from a very talented young singer / songwriter from Penzance, Hollie Rogers, a vocal / acoustic guitar piece featuring wonderful and emotive harmony work.

“Whirlyjig” from Martin Wheeler is taken from the cd “Amber” – an instrumental acoustic guitar piece which builds to a stunning climax.

“Butcher Bird” from Rob Long is a song about the Cornish Blacksmith Rebellion, co –written with his daughter Sally. It’s a lovely ancient sounding modal tune which fits the subject matter perfectly.

Rob – “Butcher Bird is of course the country name for the red-backed shrike, once very common throughout southern Britain. It’s particular forte is impaling harmless songbirds on thorns to make larders. I felt this was an interesting metaphor for what happened to An Gof and his comrades… the uses and abuses of power and the inevitable violence which underpins such systems”.

“Pensevik Rysrudh” is an acoustic guitar / vocal piece sung in Kernewek by Bert Biscoe, well known in the County and beyond as a poet and musician, and also as a County Councillor. Expect a full retrospective cd from Bert soon, which will include tracks from the legendary Cornish band the Brainiac Five as well as much of Bert’s subsequent musical works.

“Ghost” from the Architect Faction, is taken from the album “Steel”, also available here - a beautiful song telling the story of a person coping with the loss of a family member, and coming to terms with the inevitable passing of time.

Bringing some fun to the proceedings is “Gwelhellin Goth” and their track “Ride Away” from the album “Bad Provincial Boy”. This can best be described as a Cornish cowboy song – and features the talents of multi – instrumentalist and vocalist Jonathan Coudrille, past winner of the Melody Maker Top Folk Soloist Award.

“Frieze Britches / Banish Misfortune” are another pair of traditional tunes from Kerensa Newman, on Dulcimer and Whistle.

A second track from Hollie Rogers – “Holding On” follows – Hollie is blessed with a mellow soulful voice, and a songwriting talent which belies her tender years. Another track which features exquisite harmonies over a simple but effective acoustic guitar part.

“Biro Congregation” from Ian Eliott’s EP “Somewhat like a Monster” is next up – Ian is Ian Elliott is a wonderful sculptor and an amazing enigmatic musician - The CD features Ian on Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Organetta, Piano, Samples, Wine Glass, Melody Harp and Resonating Ukuleles!!.

“Farmers Union” by Mr Derek Wright, is best described as a Cornish version of The Wurzels – and celebrates the drinking activities of a group of Cornish farmers, who spend more time avoiding the wives than actually working! – taken from the cd “Pasties Cream and Treacle”.

“Violet Dawn” is a guitar / vocal piece from Shane Bailey, best known as guitarist with the Cornish instrumental trio the S.G.T. Project. This song was written for the Pan Celtic song contest. And tells the moving story of a father’s love for his daughter, as she grows and gets ready to leave the County in which she was born.

The wonderfully enigmatic Julian Gaskell follows, with “Technology will make us better”, taken from the cd of the same name - Taking on English and European folk, blues and country influences, these recordings use various ‘found sounds’ (a harmonium from a Camborne charity shop, an evicted piano, a Russian souvenir shop balalaika, a ‘zippy zither’, Falmouth seagulls etc…) along with some newly-rehearsed guitar finger styles borrowed from the likes of Bert Jansch and Nick Drake to come up with some very original music.

“New Level Ride” from Jon Chinn’s cd “Now is a Ship”, features Jon on Guitar and Vocal - wide influences from Blues, Folk, Jazz and Country melted to his own unique style.

To close the album is “Bell Ringing Contest” by Roger Bennett from his cd “Golden Daffodils” – a solo unaccompanied vocal piece about Bell Ringing rivals, who end their contest in the Cornish town of Callington.

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