Various Artists: The Imagined Village
Country of origin:
England
Type of music generally:
Reimagined traditional English folk song
Status:
Most recent release, Bending the Dark (2012)
See also:
Some The Imagined Village's site
Comparisons:
Updated traditional bands and work by the participating artists
Covers/own material:
Traditional music
General comments:
This is a collection of artists (listed in album information) who have joined together to update English folk music with contemporary sounds, in order to reinvent it for contemporary times. This includes bringing in rapping, beats, electronics, you name it. Lively, and surprisingly delightful. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Any
Recordings:
- Four Track ep (EP, 2007)
- The Imagined Village (2007)
- Empire & Love (2010)
- Bending the Dark (2012)
The Imagined Village
Release info:
2007—RealWorld—CDR W147 5099950 38727-2-7
Availability:
England
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for adventurous fans of traditional music
Group members:
The Copper Family, Sheila Chandra, Benjamin Zephaniah, Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy, Paul Weller, Trans-global Underground, Tunng, Chris Wood, Billy Bragg, Tiger Moth, The Gloworms, Johhn Kalsi
Produced by:
Simon Emmerson
Comments:
At first there were only a couple of songs I liked—the more traditional ones—but this has grown on me. The energy and delight that the musicians took in producing this is readily apparent in the recordings. This does everything from retelling the story of "Tam Lyn" and setting it in the contemporary world to updated "Cold Haily Rainy Night". Highly recommended when you're in a lively mood. There are a lot of nuances to what's been done here. It's smart and everyone is having fun. (Neile)
Empire & Love (2010)
Release info:
2010—emmerson, corncrakes&constantine—ecc 002
Availability:
England
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for adventurous fans of traditional music
Group members:
Simon Emmerson—cittern, gtuiar
Eliza Carthy—fiddle, viola, vocals
Andy Gangadeen—drumsBR<> Barney Morse-Brown—cello, vocals
Martin Carthy—guitar, vocals
Ali Fiend—bass
Chris Wood—fiddle, viola, guitar, voicals
Johnny Kalsi—percussion dhol, tabla
Simon Richmond—keyboards, electrnoica
Sheema Mukherjee—sitar, vocals
Guest artists:
Jackie Oates—vocals (8)
Ben Mrray—accordion (5)
Richard Evans—bass (5)
Martin Green—accordion (6, 9)
mark Constantine—chesil beach surf (6)
Magnus Robb—sylarks (8)
John Metcalfe—violin, viola (11)
Produced by:
Simon Emmerson, Simon Richmaon, Andy Gagadeen
Comments:
This is a mostly melanchony album, beginning with the powerful updated traditional anti-war song, "My Son John." It's a powerfouse of a lead off. Following that we're given a moody journey: even this version of "Byker Hill," usually one of Martin Carthy's most lively songs, is geared toward the haunting here. I love the flavour the unusual instrumentation gives these songs, which makes the traditional become even more alive. (Neile)
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