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The other reviews pretty much cover my own impressions on this album; I would just want to add that it's only the glaring skip at about the one minute mark in the first track(mp3) that spoils it for me; it's been this way for six months (you'd think that would be an easy thing to fix). I'd hate to have to buy the CD just for the one track but this group would be worth it.
Another treat is `When Margaret was Eleven' an incredibly moving anti-war song seen from the perspective of a child who sees their father return damaged by the war. I enthused particularly about their lead singer Karine Polwart.When Karine Polwart left to make her solo albums Malinky somehow disappeared off my radar until this, their latest offering, dropped onto my doormat. Bouzouki player Steve Byrne and Antrim born flautist/whistle player Mark Dunlop also possess fine voices. This version has made me fall in love with this exceptional song all over again. Composed by Liam Weldon, the fine singer/songwriter from Dublin, Mark's authoritative vocal certainly does justice to this powerful song. With each listen I discover new musical delights and my enthusiasm for it grows. This enormously enjoyable album has never been far from my CD player since it first arrived.
In Fiona Hunter, Malinky have found a singer who is every bit as impressive as the aforementioned Ms. Polwart. I was really taken with the first two albums by the Scottish band Malinky and remember recommending them heartily. All of this is perfectly underpinned by Fiona's fine cello giving Malinky a very distinctive sound.All of the songs included here are from the top drawer and will grow on you with repeated listening. If I had to choose a few of my favourites it would probably be Fiona's outstanding interpretation of Archie Fisher's `The Shipyard Apprentice'. Mark Dunlop's powerful delivery on `Dark Horse on the Wind' also impresses greatly. Of these I particularly enjoy `Cows and Cottongrass', a pair of traditional tunes that feature some fine guitar from token Sassenach David Wood.This is an album from a band at the top of their game; it oozes class through to the very last note. Steve Byrne's sensitive vocal over Fiona's moody cello create the perfect atmosphere for this tremendously moving song.As well as the songs there are three stirring sets of tunes which give the band a chance to show off their considerable instrumental prowess.
I now realise that I have been missing out in a big way. This Pete St. Support from fiddler Mike Vass and guitarist/bouzouki player Dave Wood make Malinky as impressive vocally as they are instrumentally.As well as the varied selection of songs, it is the tasteful and attractive arrangements in which they are set that make `Flower and Iron' stand out from the crowd. The interplay between the guitar and bouzouki provide the ideal backdrop for the impressive fiddle, flute and whistle parts. John song was new to me but has become a firm favourite. Treat yourself to a copy.
Fiona's cello and Mike's fiddle and Steve's Shruti box contribute even more to the beauty of the song. Of course, the ever-lovely Fiona Hunter makes every song worth listening to anyway. Back to highlighting some songs, the fifth track "Dark Horse on the Wind," is one of my two favorites, an Irish political song by Liam Weldon (partial to neither "side", much like Tommy Sands with "There Were Roses"). The raw emotion in this song will make you weep, especially the crescendos and decrescendos. This song is perfectly done. To understand some of the songs, you might need to study the lyrics a bit. If you want to know how Robert Burns would have spoken, Malinky is the right band for you because some of the songs are in Scots English.
But they're just dandy to listen to anyway, knowing the words or not. The instrumentals are melodious and beautiful, especially when Fiona's solos come in. The opening duet starts out rather slow, but turns into a beautifully harmonized love tune. It seems to me that all of the male-sung songs are much better this time around. Though the song is long, you'd wish it was longer. The wobbles, the roughness, the reality. It's such a fun, catchy melody, but to a recurring theme throughout time: forcing a daughter to marry a man for power and wealth rather than for love, but the daughter stands up and stays with her one true love. I think I've even got the Scots English accent down word by word (and this one is tough), and I've only had the album for two days.
Her lead on the second tune "The Broomfield Hill" is so much fun to listen to; her Scottish lilt makes me want to be Scottish. I'd say it could be done a capella or with music. Here, Mark Dunlop cranks it up to 11. This is the most beautifully performed song by the guys on any of the Malinky albums. My other favorite song is "Why Should I." I often skip the prelude music to that song (track 10) about a minute, 6 seconds into it because I listen to the actual part of the song "Why Should I." over and over, not that I don't like the preceding tune ("Janice Leask of Lerwick"). Absolutely a fun song that will be in your head for days.
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