WHISTLING JIGS TO THE MOON

The most prominent sounds on this album come from former Mellow Candle vocalist Alison O’Donnell, whose other bio credits includes a stint with the multinational folk band Éishtlinn as well as a recent solo release. Mandoliner/guitarist (is ‘manoliner’ a word?) and former O’Donnell mate Dave Williams also appears via Mellow Candle. As far as I know the rest of the band are all some variation of European expatriate. Vocalist Jo Dudding reportedly married guitarist Barrie Glenn and ended up in Canada after this band dissolved, but someone better versed in this type of folk music would know better than I where they came from.

The music here hearkens back to Fairport Convention or Steeleye Span as much as anything else, fairly traditional, conservative, and not really opening up any new avenues musically. That said, the compositions are well enough laid out, the musicianship is solid, and O’Donnell’s voice rivals the quality of Sandy Denny in her brief prime.

The original vinyl release of this album was on the South African Stanyan label, which of course means you’ll never get your hands on it without taking out a second mortgage. The Si-Wan CD reissue isn't too hard to find though, and despite the lack of depth in liner notes it is a good bargain, and was lifted from the original studio masters so the quality is quite decent.

Dudding offers crisp harmonic accompaniment on pretty much every track, and Williams sings throughout as well. These are pretty much traditional Irish and British folk arrangements, with really very little embellishment or innovation offered. Some of the tales seem to be of Tolkien influence. There’s only one (“Little Roving Sailor”) I’m quite sure I’ve heard before somewhere. The rest are as obscure as the band’s name. “The Green Cockade” kind of sounds like the Roche sisters if you’re into that sort of thing.

I’d like to say this is some sort of lost gem of folk music, but really it’s rather run-of-the-mill stuff that isn’t much worth the considerable effort to hunt it down. Mildly recommended to fans of very mellow and traditional Irish folk sounds; for anyone else this probably isn’t worth the trouble. The band’s name is really more interesting than their music. Two stars.

peace