Park Records
Steeleye Span : the very best of / present (UK,2002)**° (g)
At first I thought this was a compilation of all their earlier work, (-I immediately was happy to find "King Henry" included, one of my favourite Steeleye Span recordings), but in fact all are new recordings of earlier recorded songs. It was not completely clear at first with the title, but the CD at the back says clearly "all new recordings". So I was curious to hear how this classic group had evolved / maintained the best of their material.
Steeleye Span succeeded in the seventies making folkrock popular. They had a strong folkrock sound, and a very good female singer, a classic voice, with Maddy Prior. They made various very good interpretations of traditional and original songs in a similar style, spread over various of their records.
In some of the recordings I liked less the pop-ular style of drumming. So I hoped this would have improved on this album. Popularity of folk music is often a contradictory energy to the core of the magic of folk. I never like the whole amount of records which for instance Fairport Convention released ever since (I never liked the group that much, but really like the Sandy Denny' period and also her specific approach, which might not even have fit that well with the basic approach of the popular sound of the group). Many other new folk groups can lean back on that popularity, and on the listeners that fall back on recognition that still appreciate folk, even when all magic has disappeared. All right : folk is also sharing a warmth and mood with musicians and people we know, in conditions suitable for it. Even where the music is not that magical, folk has enough to fall back on to give the presence of a family-like atmosphere. But when I hear music that has these atmospheres on a CD I still have to be critical.. But what can I do about it, when I hear all recognisable elements, and I am reminded by the music of so many shared moments ? I have to put away my critical vision and enjoy, enjoy..
We have to be glad with the reunion. The sound of the band is somewhat like that of a very good studio band, with the voices that have kept their strength. The mood often is even more enjoyable and in a more constant mode than most of the earlier albums. This is a well experienced group that knows what they are doing. Musically there are not many unexpected ideas, but everything a fan would like to hear is present.
"Lyke Wake Dirge" did receive a reworked a capella version. Also "Blackleg Miner" received a violin arrangement (by Peter Knight), and an electric guitar solo (by Bob Johnson). Inventive from a studio musicians point of view, this is : with a creativity as if achieved in a live movement. I also have to mention "Gaudette", with again a somewhat stronger vocal arragement (-no group ever made such strong vocal arrangements as the French Malicorne ; this track goes a bit towards that direction-). "King Henry" has inventive moments in the way I have described before. The song was originally one of the earliest attemps of Steeley Span to put some rock elements into folk. I'm stick into the feeling this could have been a live experience. I think it's that particularly which you can expect on this double album. Total : almost 92 minutes !
