Lisa Knapp
Country of origin:
England
Type of music generally:
Beautiful & fierce experimental traditional folk
Status:
Most recent release, Till April is Dead: A Garland of May (2017)
See also:
Lisa Knapp's site
Comparisons:
Kathryn Williams, Bill Jones, Kate in the Kettle
Covers/own material:
Traditional, own, and co-written
General comments:
Lisa Knapp does mostly oddly playful, stripped-down versions of traditional and neo-traditional English folk. There's something fragile and powerfully evocative about her versions which I'm not sure I can describe. Maybe like if Kathryn Williams did trad folk? She's one of a kind. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Hidden Seam is my favourite. (Neile)
Recordings:
- Wild and Undaunted (2006)
- Hunt the Hare: A Branch of May (EP, 2012)
- Hidden Seam (2013)
- Till April is Dead: A Garland of May (2017)
Wild and Undaunted
Release info:
2006—Ear To The Ground—ETTGCD0001
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of new trad
Group members:
Lisa Knapp—vocals, fidddle, guitar, hammered dulcimar, banjo, autoharp, percussion, string arrangements
Guest artists:
Gerry Diver—fiddle (2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10); hammered dulcimar (2, 4); autoharp (2, 4); accordion (4, 5, 10); guitar (1); percussion (1, 2); bells and bangs (7); viola (7); recorders, whistles, timps (2); bass (2); string arrangements (2, 7, 9, 10)
Ben Clark—drum (4)
John Hennessey-Brown—cello (1)
Brendan MacCoulay—pipe drones (4)
Produced by:
Gerry Drive & Lisa Knapp
Comments:
Mostly traditional songs, but a couple of wonderful original tracks, too. Usually on albums that have both I'm underwhelmed by the originals, but that is absolutely not the case here. Here "There u r", co-written by Lisa Knapp and her husband, Gerry Driver, is utterly delightful and an enlivening contribution to the album. Knapp's own "Little Bird" and "Ride Along" both fit beautifully here. The traditional songs are gorgeous and often mournful. "Blacksmith" is one of my favourite versions of the song (I have several). Her version of "Bitter Withy" is a gut-punch. The final track, "Salisbury Plain" is one of the most haunting traditional versions of a song I've ever heard—so simple, yet so effective. Overall, an odd and wonderful album. Lisa Knapp is my favourite musical discovery of the year. (Neile)
Hunt the Hare: A Branch of May
Release info:
2012—Ear To The Ground
Availability:
The limited edition CD is out of print. Electronic version available at Lisa Knapp's bandcamp page
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Lisa Knapp—vocals, fiddles, guitar, programming
Guest artists:
Gerry Diver—fiddle (2, 3); bass (4)
Alasdair Roberts—guest vocals (2, 3); guitar (2, 3)
Pete Flood—percussion (2, 3)
Produced by:
Lisa Knapp (1, 4, 5); Gerry Diver (2, 3)
Comments:
A five-track EP with two trad songs and three of Lisa Knapp's compositions. Her "Hunt the Hare pt 1" and "Hunt the Hare pt 2" are amazing (and are also included on Hidden Seam)—the first fragile, and the second energetic and evocative. A lovely small collection. (Neile)
Hidden Seam
Release info:
2013—Navigator Records
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Lisa Knapp—vocals, harp, glass harp, autoharp, hammered ducimer, viola, drums, percussion, additional programming
Guest artists:
Gerry Diver—strings (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8); piano (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9); tenor and bass guitars (2, 5, 7); pedal steel (9); autoharp (2, 30: foot tap (1); glockenspiel (2); recorders (5); keyboard & programming (2, 3, 4, 6, 7); additional percussion (8); string section arrangements
James Yorkston—guest vocals (4)
Marry Waterson—guest vocals (4)
Alasdair Robers—guest vocals and guitar (7, 8)
Kathryn Williams—guest vocals and harmony arrangements (9)
Bonnie Diver—guest vocals (9)
Martin Carthy—guitar (6)
Pete Flood—drums and percussion (2, 5, 7, 8)
Oliver Cherer—programmming (1)
Johhny Hennessey-Brown—cello (5, 6)
Zi Lan—guzheng (3)
Kenny Dickenson—trumpet (5)
Produced by:
Gerry Driver
Comments:
It's strange and brilliant. I really liked her first, Wild and Undaunted, but this is so much more. The title track, "Hidden Seam," especially is utterly amazing—I play it obsessively. She can make a listing of shipping lanes sound so evocative. This is full of tracks I love from end to end. Overall this album is one of my top of the year and one I know I will be listening for years to come. Highly, highly recommended. (Neile)
Till April is Dead: A Garland of May
Release info:
2017—Ear To The Ground
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of trad and neotrad and edgy folk
Group members:
Lisa Knapp—vocals, viola, pump organ, keyboard, violin, hammered dulcimer, programming, foot taps, percussion
Guest artists:
Gerry Diver—violin (3,, 4, 12); harmonium (3); additional pecussion (2); organ (3, 7); banjo (8, 12); hammered dulcimer (4); electric guitar (4); percussion (4, 7); piano (3, 4, 5); bass guitar (4, 11, 12); acoustic guitar (4); recorder (4); accordion (12); programming (3, 4, 7, 11); keyboards (4)
Graham Coxom—vocals and guitar (3)
David Tibet—vocals (4)
Mary Hampton—vocals (8); additional vocals (2)
Steve Roud—spoken word (1)
Donnie Diver—spoken word (7)
Pete Flood—drums and percussion (2, 4, 7, 12)
Dave East—concertina (8); additional vocals (2)
Scott Miligan—additional vocals (2)
Doreen Leighter—additional vocals (2)
Produced by:
Gerry Diver
Comments:
Utter magic. Lisa Knapp has a way of making her compositions sound like an evocation of myth and mystery—and joy. She can be so playful, as in "Till April is Dead," "Lark in the Morning," and "Pleasant Month of May," and most especially in "Padstow May Song" with its cuckoo clock. She can also be mournful as in "Lily White Hand" and mix it up within songs. But the playfulness is what really stands out for me on this album. So delightful! (Neile)
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