Alison Krauss & Union Station
Capercaillie
Whiskey Priests
Eliza Carthy
Oysterband
Ralph McTell
The John Doe Thing
Jackie Leven
Rory McLeod
Chis & Carla
Shane MacGowan & The Popes
Mary Black
Maddy Prior
Show Of Hands
Pressgang
Mary Coughlan
Forrester
73:03 min
total running time
The track from the Oysterband shows them in all-round form. Capturing
the very poetry and passion that drives their live performances, listen
to 'Native Son' and you'll know what we mean. +++ Mary Black started
singing in the convent school choir and by 14 she was performing regularly
in Dublin's pubs. Before long she was busking around the East Coast of
America with her brothers - a great grounding and a great experience,
living literally from hand to mouth. Today, she is the most successful
Irish female singer of the past 20 years, with every album going platinum
in her home country. +++ Ralph McTell - born to ramble. A minstrel
who has busked the streets of Paris, walked the streets of London and
travelled - in song - from the fields of County Clare to America's blues-imbued
southern reaches..." (Rock'nReel). We didn't have to ask Ralph twice before
he agreed to record a special version of "Peppers & Tomatoes", to be used
exclusively on this compilation. The original version can be found on
his album "Sand In My Shoes". +++ Capercaillie contain some of
the finest musicians on the Gaelic scene: Manus Lunnyon - bouzouki; Charlie
McKerron - fiddle; Donald Shaw -keyboards, accordion and John Saich -
bass and guitar.
+++ The line up is completed by the exquisite voice of Karen Matheson,
"the finest Gaelic singer alive today"! 22 year old virtuoso fiddle player
and vocalist Eliza Carthy, goes from strength to strength. In fact,
her winning combination of talent, style and single-mindedness has made
such an impact that in recent years she has helped to shake off a great
deal of prejudice towards folk music and English folk in particular. +++
Pressgang display an exiting presentation of the multi-cultural English
heritage. They represent a band that folk and non-folk audiences, young
and old, can enjoy. Pressgang play for people who enjoy discovering new
music and who make their own comparisions. +++ Maddy Prior (ex-Steeleye
Span) is never afraid to take chances, "Flesh & Blood" (from which her
contribution was lifted), is an album which knows what it is to be English.
A work of stature, revelry and consideration from the voice of Albion.
+++ John Doe, a founder member of the X, (L.A. Punk rock pioneers),
has also worked through the 80s and 90s as an actor and with his own American
roots music band. His unique voice and remarkable songwriting talent has
earned him a cult following all over the world. +++ Alison Krauss
And Union Station: initially acclaimed as a young fiddler, it was Alison's
voice that soon captivated everyone's attention. Signed by Rounder Records
at only 14, as her career progressed she developed her skills as a producer
and arranger, and is now famed for her knack of finding great songs.
+++ Show Of Hands are widely regarded as Britain's foremost acoustic
duo. Since filling London's Royal Albert Hall in 1996, they have thrilled
thousands with Steve Knightley's haunting songs, and Phil Beer's amazing
instrumental virtuosity. Performing what are already regarded as classics,
they have won standing ovations all over America and Europe. +++ Formed
in 1985 by twins Gary & Glenn Miller when they were teenagers, the continued
survival and success of The Whiskey Priests against all the odds
is testament to their commitment, dedication, passion, enthusiasm and
sheer tenacity. +++ John Forrester songs & performances have been
described as passionate, sensitive, articulate, inspired, chilling & compelling
to name but a few! He has a particularly expressive voice and is one of
a kind - few artists use acoustic instruments for the type of material
that John writes. +++ Well known as the songwriting team of U.S. roots
rockers the Walkabouts, Chris & Carla have also been working as
a duo. Unafraid to experiment, they have earnt a fine reputation as performers
and storytellers as can be heard on the contributed track. Certain people
leave a lasting impression on you.
+++ Shane MacGowan is one of them. He's the archetypal creative genius,
hovering somewhere between madness and sanity; a master of paradox, transforming
the life of the wino, the down and out, the emigrant, into a song of savage
beauty. +++ Paul du Noyer of the Independent has described Jackie Leven
as "one of the best male voices of our time". Stuart Maconie wrote in
Q; " A songwriter of rare gifts, a guitarist of great lyricism and one
of the best male rock voices these islands have ever produced."
+++ Rory McLeod, ex-circus clown and fire-eater, is a one-man soul-band,
poet and storyteller singing his own unique, upbeat dance-stories. A modern
travelling troubadour, instantly recognisable by his use of tap shoes,
voice, harmonica and guitar as well as trombone and a plethora of percussional
instruments. +++ It was back in the mid 80s when Mary Couglan started
her career in Galway on the Irish West Coast via a frenetic series of
concerts. Now this singer, whose voice possesses the power to inject a
glimmer of hope into even the saddest of songs, has returned - this time
for good.