Westwind ''Love Is...'' (UK Folk 1970)
Fragile, wispy songs are the stock of Westwind as described in their album booklet. The first song has a jazzy , playful quality to a simple ballad with three part harmony vocals, strummed guitar and a shuffling rhythm. 'Sleepy City' has gentle horn and flute touches over a lovely late night hushed song. A similar feeling is achieved on 'Harbour Lights'. 'Love is a funny sort of thing' and 'Home is where my heart is' are slightly more driven and with a faster tempo but still stark and simple in instrumentation. Some songs have a whimsical child like, 70s Radio 2 aspect that may infuriate some listeners such as on 'Sun Across The Snow' or especially on the atrociously twee 'Sweeney Todd'. Some songs like 'Goodtimes' are derived from the 50s skiffle song mixed with a sort of evangelical happiness that is hard to stomach. At these times you can almost see the band as a guest slot on a BBC Val Doonican special or opening for The Spinners at a sea side resort. However almost all can be forgiven by the stunning 18th century styled ballad 'Robin Hill' which evokes countryside and the rural quite beautifully with a precisely sung female lead vocal and very simple guitar and strings backing.
1. Goodbye Butterfly
2. Sleepy City
3. Love Is Funny Sort Of Thing
4. Sun Across The Snow
5. How Many Stars
6. Robin Hill
7. Goodtimes
8. Fisherman Song
9. Sweeney Todd
10. Rosemary
11. Harbour Lights
12. Home Is Where My Heart Is
Fragile, wispy songs are the stock of Westwind as described in their album booklet. The first song has a jazzy , playful quality to a simple ballad with three part harmony vocals, strummed guitar and a shuffling rhythm. 'Sleepy City' has gentle horn and flute touches over a lovely late night hushed song. A similar feeling is achieved on 'Harbour Lights'. 'Love is a funny sort of thing' and 'Home is where my heart is' are slightly more driven and with a faster tempo but still stark and simple in instrumentation. Some songs have a whimsical child like, 70s Radio 2 aspect that may infuriate some listeners such as on 'Sun Across The Snow' or especially on the atrociously twee 'Sweeney Todd'. Some songs like 'Goodtimes' are derived from the 50s skiffle song mixed with a sort of evangelical happiness that is hard to stomach. At these times you can almost see the band as a guest slot on a BBC Val Doonican special or opening for The Spinners at a sea side resort. However almost all can be forgiven by the stunning 18th century styled ballad 'Robin Hill' which evokes countryside and the rural quite beautifully with a precisely sung female lead vocal and very simple guitar and strings backing.1. Goodbye Butterfly
2. Sleepy City
3. Love Is Funny Sort Of Thing
4. Sun Across The Snow
5. How Many Stars
6. Robin Hill
7. Goodtimes
8. Fisherman Song
9. Sweeney Todd
10. Rosemary
11. Harbour Lights
12. Home Is Where My Heart Is
posted by Lizardson at 1:10 PM
4 Comments:
best music blog going by a country mile right now, thank you. do you have lammas night lamenst compilations? most of these albums were featured on there.
I don't know this album but it looks as though it will be another good 'un. You have great taste in music, my friend. Many thanks for sharing.
One of the best unknown folk albums ever.Thank you.
P.S.By the way, have you seen Hunter Musket's first album here?
they sound pretty square to me.
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