Rosemarie - Thistletown Album Review
Thistletown
Album Review
Hey man, its Folk-hippies, from Cornwall. Let's get happeeeey.
On Falmouth's five - folkies Rosemarie you only have to glance at the tracklisting to twig what's going on here. There are only eight songs. That's just enough to whet your appetite from this West Country band of retros, who've clearly have a thing about the past. The Falmouth quintet bring things back into the 21st century with a splash of colour and class. Truth is this is a little gem, steeped in the defining traditions of hippydom twisted by trad-folk : a really potent fusion. What's really cool about this collection is the lack of pretentiousness as they embrace the past and thrust it into the future. Okay, it most likely won't sell bucket loads, but music lovers should have this in their collection - its staying in mine. It conjures up all manner of whimsical images: romance, trees, fairies, mist...well, I think you know the rest. Anyway, Thistletown make a real fist of their debut which is full of honeyed medieval-like harmonies, drones, etc, bringing authenticity to everything they deliver, via instruments such as lute, harmonium, accordion, mandolin, saz, cittern and others . There's also a touch of Simon & Garfunkel's Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme found on Dance With The Sea, a traditional song. Opener Rosemarie sets the scene perfectly with Tiffany Bryant (or Lydia Tweddell - see, even the names fit the bill), adding her dulcet tones to the acoustic/electric romp. For Gloworm they drop the pace, adding some nifty brass to the charming sway. Should you ever go camping, then Under The Trees is perfect to dance around the glowing camp fire - I can just see the images right now. Labyrinth skips to a groovy beat and sublime flute drop-ins, while Tiff and Lyd drench it with some gorgeous vocal textures. After the drone-like Moon Is A Pearl, they use what sounds like rain effects to thread the wishful The Sun Is Coming Up, one of their simplest songs here, even if the lyrics don't add up to much more than repetition of the title.
File under: Take it camping, and don't forget the joss sticks!
