Umbrellahead
The Sheiling : Life in a box (WA,2007)***'
Around the time as I read the notes of the Meic Stevens reissue, which claimed that Meic Stevens was an exception in 70s Wales between less interesting musicians and groups back then, I wondered if it really was so and who would show enough alternative creativity, perhaps even today when I came upon this new Welsh band.
The group is led by a singer/songwriter, Dylan Jones who besides being a visual artist and having written a poetry book, is also a huge fan of Nick Drake, and artists like Tim Buckley and so on. In addition we have guitarist Alan Coopey and violinist/singer Lucy Jones, with a loose handful of accompanying musicians.
It is hard without some form of alienation of overemphasized sensitivities to be as creative and gifted as these aforementioned artists, but it is less a problem of taking the good taste of them into a more normal, warm and comfortable session. It is clear how they listened much to Nick Drake when hearing the guitar instrumental “For Ann in Summer”. I could easily recognise a Tim Buckley/John Martyn influence on “Place I need to be”. And there are also good slightly alternative interpretations of a few cover songs, like Nick Drake’s “Clothes of Sand” or “From the morning” (with additional violin), songs which clearly became something of their own (world). Also interpreted is the Fred Neil song, “Dolphins”, the particular song which comes closest to Tim Buckley’s later work and talent in song interpretation. Even when the guitar work and the song inspirations can be from a more simple human level, it makes this far more reachable, like to a small public, in a small folk stage bar where the contact on various levels between musicians and public is more intimate and direct. It is nice to hear how the leading vocalists have there own rich vocal qualities and mood, something which also spread its qualities in the few interpretations of some traditionals, of which “the cruel mother” I like especially. A really very nice to listen to album.
