LIVE - AT A DISTANCE
(Park
Records PRKCD104)
I
was lucky enough to catch Steeleye on their latest 2009 tour and came away
mightily impressed by their great ‘live’ show so imagine my surprise and
delight when this 3-disk CD/DVD landed on my doorstep.
The
band have still got what it takes forty years down the road and to bear this
out they start with a rousing “Who’s The Fool Now?” featuring their
trademark battery of vocals…it’s also interesting to glimpse percussionist
Liam Genocky providing vocal reinforcement with the band on the DVD. Following
up with the ponderous though never more apt arrangement of the gothic “When
I Was On Horseback” and a truly joyful re-working of the Dixon Of Dock Green
inspired chorus in “Two Magicians” it’s then that nostalgia soon starts
to bite.
Utilising
a massive back catalogue the band’s net is cast far and wide to include more
recent compositions contributed by Peter Knight, Ken Nicol and Rick Kemp that
settle nicely amongst the more established traditional re-workings.
Still
on fine form and resplendent in red Maddy cuts a striking figure as her
soulful renderings of “The Dreamer And The Widow” and “Betsy Bell And
Mary Grey” (joined by a truly inspirational Peter Knight on fiddle) are
given the gravitas they deserve.
Well,
what more could you ask? If you’re a fan of the band or just starting your
journey with them this is as fine a representation of folk-rock I’ve heard
(or seen) in ages and a must purchase at only £15.
www.parkrecords.com
Pete Fyfe.
2009
