Reviews
Time
Simon Jones
© Folk Roots No.155
May 1996
Where have you been boys and girls – these seven long years and more? The choral cry of Spanovian fandom.
The response is Time mean and moody complete with an '18' Certificate and motivation straight from Quentin Tarrantino. To be blunt, this is altogether something wonderful and frightening. While we're not talking thrash core grunge, it's more than obvious that a band well past 25 years has not just a spring in its step but a bloody huge bound. This Steeleye is leering and hungry.
So what's changed a lovely, pleasant bunch electric jiggers into go-for-the-throat folk vampires? In one word confidence. There's a whole ring of it round this CD as the harmonic rush, re-blooded since the re-arrival of Gay Woods, opens 'The Prickly Bush' You're back in the high days of spooking folk song with very loud noises and wounding but tuneful melodies.
G'wan, knacker your inner whirling dervish through Tam Lin Reel or burn your ears with 'The Elf Knight' And Lord save us, it's as if the Witches of Pendle have descended during the unearthly 'Corbies' - a harrowing refit from 'Hark! The Village Wait'
Now resplendent with four - yes, count 'em - four lead vocalists, these are lofty times. There is nary a weak track on offer, even if 'Harvest Of The Moon' is a touch cute. Gay Woods and Maddy Prior are unashamed, take us as you find us, pure pedigree. Their voices are more assured and stylish: check 'Go From My Window' (Gay) and 'Underneath Her Apron' (Maddy) - two slices of hot pizzazz.
What else do you get for your money? Sex (a surfeit or total drought), pagan chants, hangings, skewerings, soured love, incessant curiosity, ritual religious burnings and a track that tells you, though the singer is gone the song lives on. Yes, real fun stuff!
'Time' will sound good ten years from now, twenty even... it's refreshing,sparky and puts the name of Steeleye Span right back in the main frame. It's an object lesson in how to stand your ground, come out fighting and clip one or two young pretenders round the ear.
Where it all began - it continues.
Park Records, Prkcd 034
*Click here to see the cover & track listing.