"Byker Hill was the first album on which Carthy and Swarbrick had more than two or three hours' studio time, and, as a result, which was actually rehearsed and programmed weeks in advance. The results are less spontaneous than their earlier work, but also show a level of professionalism that few folk albums of the era ever demonstrated. The differences lie in the careful nuances, and the sophistication of the paired voice and instruments, which are much more studied than anything previously heard. The music is glorious in its own unassuming way--Carthy's acapella performance on the haunting "Brigg Fair" (a Lincolnshire tune originally collected by Percy Grainger, and which was the basis for a classical piece by Frederick Delius), the interweaving of Carthy's voice and Swarbrick's violin on "The Bloody Gardener," the dazzling title track, and maybe the best version of "John Barleycorn" ever recorded, are among 14 of the most prized songs in their careers." (Allmusic)
"An astonishingly good album coming toward the end of Carthy's original partnership with Dave Swarbrick. The singing is, as always, first rate, nowhere better than on the haunting a cappella songs "Salisbury Plain" and the nine-minute "Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard." Carthy's playing by this time had become less self-consciously complex and more confident, allowing him to accomplish more with less on his guitar. The resulting sound is spare but powerful, particularly on "Arthur McBride and the Sergeant" and "Polly on the Shore" -- his notes seem to chime like little bells on the latter. His playing on "Seven Yellow Gypsies" seems like the work of more than one guitar, and gives one a reason to listen to the song several times, taking in the playing and singing separately. Even more remarkable is the fact that the title track is another of Carthy's cut-and-paste jobs, assembled from fragments and melodies of several incomplete traditional songs." (Allmusic).
"While there's plenty of traditional material, like the epic revisiting of "Prince Heathen," which Martin Carthy first recorded with musical partner Dave Swarbrick back in the '60s, and a wonderful take on "Sir Patrick Spens," the emphasis is far more on the modern, be it Hoagy Carmichael's "Hong Kong Blues," a tune he recalled from childhood, or Elvis' "Heartbreak Hotel," beautifully rendered as country blues, or most unusual of all, a very moving version of the Bee Gees' "New York Mine Disaster, 1941" which makes the listener realize that at heart it's a folk song. The highlight of the disc has to be "Prince Heathen," a song he's grappled with for 30 years and has finally completely made his own. Even as he reduces it to something simple, it grows more complex in his hands, showing itself as one of the great ballads. While it might have taken him a while to make this record, the contents are more than worth the wait." (allmusic.com)
"Waterson:Carthy's first, and probably starkest and most understated, album is a fine testament to the legacies that Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson have carved out for themselves over the years. As with most of their albums, the vocals are pretty equally split between Waterson, Carthy, and daughter Eliza Carthy, with all three combining in great harmony, especially evident on tracks like "Sleep On Beloved." Nancy Kerr adds some excellent fiddle work to go with Eliza Carthy's already exemplary playing. Certain tracks, such as "When I First Came to Caledonia" and "Midnight on the Water," rank among the most beautiful Waterson:Carthy have ever made. This is definitely an obligatory purchase for fans of traditional British folk." (Allmusic).
"Misschien wel beste album van de 64-jarige vader der Engelse folk. Complexe arrangementen, met naast onnavolgbaar gitaarspel een glansrol voor Martin Simpsons slide. Ook cello, hobo en trompet doen wonderen voor z'n doorleefde voordracht." (Volkskrant)
In 2001 wordt-ie 60, dit boegbeeld van de Britse folk. de 4 CD's van deze box belichten thematisch z'n 40-jarige carriere en bevatten veel uniek materiaal. Met Pete Frame-family tree. Mmv the Watersons, Richard Thompson, Bert Jansch e.v.a.
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