Fay Hield - Green Gravel [official video]

Fay Hield - Green Gravel

Fay Hield 2016 review Review of Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party, in the truly atmospheric setting of The Chapel at The Convent in Stroud.

Following on from recent successes with folk supergroup, The Full English (Fay, Seth Lakeman, Martin Simpson, Nancy Kerr, Sam Sweeny, etc), Fay Hield returns with her third solo album, Old Adam, supported by The Hurricane Party, continuing on from the critically acclaimed Looking Glass (2010) and Orfeo (2012). Old Adam is a fourteen track affair that sees Fay and her band interrupt material lifted from across the folk spectrum and beyond, with the earliest number, The Hag In The Beck taken from 1600's whilst The Briar And The Rose is adapted from the Tom Waits songbook, each number is given a new leash of life by the original and evocative arrangements pieced together by Hield and her band. The album opens with what was once a popular playground song with many variations and versions, in the shape of Green Gravel, but I dare say   none have the drama that Fay and her band deliver, propelled by a thunderous rhythm section of beaten drum and elastic double bass, Fay unveils a strong and passionate lead vocal, instantly grabbing for the listeners attention, whilst the addition of a rousing, choral chorus compounds the drama of the performance, making for a compelling and addictive opening number. Throughout the duration of the album's duration Fay delivers a collection of compelling stories, from the fantastical tale of following your heart on the upbeat Raggle Taggle Gypsy, to the more typical tale of adultery on Go From My Window to the oldest known story, Old Adam, the first man and a time before sin and corruption, each one delivered with passion and conviction lead by Fay's diverse vocal phrasing  and the inspired use of instrumentation. The album is littered with highlights from the aforementioned Old Adam with it's striking strummed guitar opening, sawed strings and subtle rhythmic rumblings, growing into a stunning widescreen folk affair, led by Fay's engaging lead vocal. Queen Eleanor's Confession sees a woozy Concertina take over as the lead instrument, as Hield delivers a bewitching medieval flavoured deathbed confessional. Both Jack Orion and Go From My Window are dramatic tales of infidelity, with the latter opening as a striking acapella piece before developing into a full bodied affair, complete with an intoxicating use of both percussion (pattered and beaten) and strings. Whilst the closing number (bar an instrumental reprise of Old Adam), The Briar And The Rose is a delightfully weathered and sparse rendition of equal of Waits himself. The year has barely began and already we've already seen a number of incredible albums released, with plenty more to follow, but despite that, I'd imagine that Old Adam will be spoken of and revered in folk circles (and beyond) in the months to come as a masterclass of storytelling and deliverance.

Taken from her forthcoming album, Old Adam (out 12th Feb 2016), traditional singer and folklorist Fay Hield has selected the many versions of ‘Green Gravel’ recorded by Alice Bertha Gomme in ‘The Traditional Games of England Scotland and Ireland’ and woven them together in a moving, atmospheric and affecting way.  The song has links to burial ceremonies, with green gravel representing the newly turned grave, though there is no suggestion this rhyme was performed at burials, more that children took the ideas of life, love and death into their own sphere. Fay’s 3rd solo album, Old Adam contains 14 tracks and is a fresh and original exploration of how we use stories and music to understand what it means to be human. Fay’s distinctive and naturalistic singing style has won her critical acclaim for her previous solo albums (Looking Glass / 2010 and Orfeo / 2012, both Topic Records) including several BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and a nomination for Folk Singer of the Year. Fay is accompanied by her stellar band, The Hurricane Party; Rob Harbron (English Concertina, fiddle, vocals), Sam Sweeney (fiddle, viola, cello, nyckelharpa, vocals), Roger Wilson (fiddle, guitar, mandolin and vocals), expanded to include Ben Nicholls (Bass) and Toby Kearney (Percussion) and special guests (Fay’s partner) Jon Boden and guitar maestro, Martin Simpson. Fay Hield will tour with The Hurricane Party in February and March 2016. www.fayhield.com www.twitter.com/fayhield www.facebook.com/Fay-Hield

"Fay Hield - Green Gravel" by Proper Music Distribution