Richard Hollis reviews the Steeleye album They Called her Babylon

They Called Her Babylon is the third in a line of very strong albums from Steeleye. The first being Bedlam Born which really pushed the boundaries and had some cracking songs on it. The second being Present, a reworking and re-recording of some of the bands most popular tracks and a very satisfying album to listen to, and finally this one, They Called Her Babylon.

They Called Her Babylon is an album of all new material (to Steeleye that is) and, although not a clone or even a copy - as things move on -  reminds me a lot of the 70's albums (Below The Salt to Rocket Cottage). It has a couple of big ballads - They Called Her Babylon and Diversus and Lazarus; an acapella track, Bede's Death Song and an instrumental, Si Begh Si Mhor, which is not a medley of jigs and reels, as we had in the old days, but a stunningly beautiful track, musicianship dosen't get much better than this.

This album also has all the favourite themes that we love from this unique band, tales of Lords and Ladies and characters from history and legend.

Every track on this album has a great tune, after just couple of listens you'll being humming or whistling most of them I guarantee. It has some fantastic tales and some incredibly beautiful songs, just listen to Mantle of Green and What's The Life of a Man? for instance.

This band has in its' ranks some of the finest musicians playing today - Liam Genockey - Peter Knight - Rick Kemp - Ken Nicol and probably the greatest female folk singer that Britain has ever produced, Maddy Prior!

Out of the three recent excellent albums from Steeleye I think this must be my favourite, it is Steeleye playing the sort of music that they do better than anyone else with one of the finest line-ups for years. Absolutely Wonderful

Richard Hollis. April 2004