June Tabor At The Wood's Heart CD - Import

You always know a June Tabor album means quality, thoughtful performances, interesting material, and wonderful arrangements -- along with that spellbinding, velvet autumn voice. For this disc she's assembled her dream team of musicians -- her usual accompanists plus Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting, and a couple of others -- to play on a fascinating collection of songs. The emphasis is on the traditional, but she hardly confines herself to pieces like "The Banks of the Sweet Primeroses," but also pieces by contemporary writers, and the jazz standard "Do Nothing 'til You Hear from Me," which is the only piece that doesn't quite work. By itself it's fine, but set alongside the relative sobriety of the folk material, its tone seems to jar a little (at the same time, her version of "Heart Like a Wheel" flows with an elegant grace). She seems most at home on the folk songs -- modern or old -- bringing a sly sense of humor to "The Broomfield Wager," for example, and a real ache to "Oh! Alas I Am in Love." As her recent box set showed, she's one of Britain's great singers, developing over the years, and this really does show her at the height of her powers, with a majestic control, and flawless backing. This stands as one of her very best albums -- which is high praise indeed. ~ Chris Nickson

This is June Tabor's first new work since 2003's award winning "An Echo Of Hooves" (TOP #543). In the past two years, June's profile has never been higher, winning two BBC Folk Awards, appearing on television several times, including a full length concer

Recording information: Oak Barn, Clee St. Margaret, Shropshire (05/2005).

Photographer: John Haxby.

Arrangers: June Tabor; Martin Simpson; Huw Warren; Andy Cutting; Mark Emerson; Mark Lockheart; Tim Harries; Iain Ballamy.

Personnel: June Tabor (vocals); June Tabor; Andy Cutting (accordion); Martin Simpson (guitar); Mark Emerson (violin, viola); Mark Lockheart (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Iain Ballamy (tenor saxophone); Huw Warren (piano); Tim Harries (double bass).

Audio Mixer: Mark Emerson.

Dirty Linen (p.45) - "[T]hese chronicles of life's struggles are delivered in a strong, at times even commanding a lot....All is accepted, much is understood, and nothing overpowers this narrative voice..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Charged, shuddering ballads sung with simmering passion and understated arrangements..."