Reviews
Storm Force Ten
By Hugh Fielder
© Sounds
19 Nov 1977
The shift in musical emphasis heralded by the arrival of Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick to the ranks of Steeleye Span is bourne out by 'Storm Force Ten'. The rabble-rousing aspects of Steeleye's music have been exorcised, together with the frivolities (some would say excesses) of Mike Batt's production, although Mike is present on the album adding the occasional synthesiser.
The overall effect is that the band have moved back a bit don't panic, they've not gone back to 'Ten Man Mop' but more around the 'Parcel Of Rogues'/'Now We Are Six' era but with two important differences. The first is that the original members have taken their weighty experience back with them and second is that the two new boys have added a new dimension to the group's sound.
Of the pair, Kirkpatrick's contribution is more obvious. His accordion cuts across the group's frequently sharp and angular arrangements with smooth swathes most effectively. Carthy's contribution seems more subdued although his guitar playing gives some of the songs a subtlety different emphasis.
But the star of this album for me is Maddy Prior whom I've never heard in finer voice. She takes two quite difficult Berthold Brecht songs - 'The Wife Of 'The Soldier' and 'The Black Freighter' (from 'The Threepenny Opera') - and handles them both superbly, hitting the notes spot on despite the frequently deliberate discordant backing around her.
Both tunes illustrate the sophistication the band are now able to give to arrangements yet the overall sound is kept clean and uncluttered. 'The Black Freighter' is quite an adventurous step for the band to take but because they are able to bring to it their complete range of skills from arranging to instrumental effects I rate it one of the album's successes.
But the pertinent question for Steeleye is whether the new fans they acquired with , 'All Around My Hat' and 'Rocket Cottage' will stick with the band now that they are much less 'rock' in their approach. There's a good deal of appeasement on all sides underpinning much of 'Storm Force Ten'. Somehow I think they'll be lucky to retain their rock following but then Steeleye have provided a good many surprises in their illustrious approach.
*Click here to see the cover & track listing.