Rif Mountain Rec.
V.A. : Echoes from the Mountain (US,2010)****
The Village Thing label recalls a history that collected professional, honest acoustic music from the local Bristol scene. This period deserves more attention. Just recently a festival was organized to remember this VT period with a first tribute album, but the world has shown only little interest. The Riff Mountain label, feeling like-minded, makes a second attempt of a tribute with musicians of similar sincerity, and with a few people from the same period. Compared to the late 60s, early 70s most contributions seems to have slightly breathy voices, a bit more melancholic as if looking back a bit more with sadness for a lost era than with a feeling of celebration, Pamela Wyn Shannon is one of the few who are really capable of reorganising its full energy completely into our times with vibrant inspiration as if nothing of it is/was ever lost, especially on her brilliant version of the Derroll Adams song, reinterpretating the song and the pickings and having added some fiddle arrangement too. Very different also is Katie Rose interpreting a Dave Evans song into a slightly hippie folk version with the accompaniment of the Indian tampura. Steve Tilston is interpreted several times but he himself is tributing as well with a nice Wizz Jones song interpretation, while Wizz Jones himself, with a more breathy voice as well reinterprets one of his own old songs. Another Wizz Jones song is performed in a simple, still effective way by Adam Leonard, and another track with dual vocals by Stephen Cracknell. The first Steve Tilston interpretation was done by Pamela Wyn Shannon with a slightly breathy voice and pickings, another track by The A.Lords with Mark Fry who came from the same scene and period. The arrangements on the last one has some extra flute arrangement. Further we have a fine Hunt & Turner cover by Starless & Bible Black with a breathy lead voice, vocal harmonies, acoustic guitars and analogue synths. The Owl Service plays and rearranged Ian A.Anderson's “Time is Ripe” with electrified voice and vibrating atmosphere. Jane Weaver interpreted the classic song by the psych-folk band Sun Also Rises, a breathy version with harmonium a song becoming dramatic in a different way. Jason Steel interpreted a song by Dave Evans making it something entirely his own. Two Al Jones tracks were interpreted too, one banjo driven and sad bluesy song by Lemez Duo with Ben Mandelson and another previously unreleased song by the man with the inclusion of traditional tune by Corncrow. The Straw Bear Band interpreted a Chris Thompson track, making it sadder than the original.
The album succeeds to keep the atmosphere together well, making it a very enjoyable compilation. It is also very good to give notice to many of the contributors involved.
The album is dedicated to the memory of Derroll Adams and Fred Wedlock.
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