Fairport Convention Wood & The Wire CD

Fairport's 1997 studio effort WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TIME GOES? commenced with the rollicking "John Gaudie," written and sung by newcomer Chris Leslie. Many a fan must have sighed with relief and thought that, for the first time since the group originally disbanded in 1979, Fairport had an in-house songwriter of substance. Almost as importantly, here was someone to share vocal duties with Simon Nicol. THE WOOD AND THE WIRE boasts nine songs penned by Leslie alone or with Nigel Stonier, three in-house compositions or arrangements, plus two outside efforts including the stirring finale "Rocky Road" from the ever-reliable Steve Tilston.

This is also the first studio album to feature drummer Gerry Conway, a veteran of Eclection, Fotheringay and Jethro Tull, so no stranger to students of the Fairport family tree. The heavy reliance on Chris Leslie's songs and light voice will please those who have grown comfy with the sedate pace of recent Fairport offerings. Others may think that Leslie should have submitted fewer songs and honed them to perfection. An arrangement of "Western Wind" injects some traditional fare into the proceedings, but some may yearn for the band to stretch out and rock on an epic ballad.

Recorded at Woodworm Studios, Oxfordshire, England in 1999.

Personnel: Simon Nicol (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Chris Leslie (vocals, bouzouki, mandolin, didjeridu, background vocals); Ric Sanders (violin); Dave Pegg (double bass, bass guitar, background vocals); Gerry Conway (drums, congas, bodhran, cowbells, shaker, tambourine, wood block, bells, wind chime).

Audio Mixer: Mark Tucker .

Recording information: Woodworm Studios, Oxfordshire, England (1999).

Photographer: Bob Battersby.

Arrangers: Chris Leslie; Dave Pegg; Gerry Conway; Ric Sanders; Simon Nicol.

Fairport Convention: Chris Leslie (vocals, bouzouki, mandolin, violin, didjeridoo); Simon Nicol (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Dave Pegg (vocals, bass); Ric Sanders (violin); Gerry Conway (drums, congas, Moroccan hand drums, percussion).

Producers: Dave Pegg, Simon Nicol, Mark Tucker.

Mojo (Publisher) (7/00, p.112) - "...If you haven't been near a Fairport album in years, could be time to try again....[they] are reinvigorated by a recent addition to the ranks, multi-instrumentalist Chris Leslie....The playing is free, flowing and natural, Ric Sanders sounding like the inventive fiddle-wizzard of old..."