I am pleased that I was able to pick up three albums at one time, as I knew that after playing ‘Wake The Union’ I still had one more to go, and their most recent album just made me smile from beginning to end. This is SoH doing what they do best, namely mixing together traditional folk and new songs with a few guests dotted about here and there to provide additional emphasis where needed. They have brought in the Bridge Inn Shandymen to assist in places, and each time they join in it reminds me of the many Harvest of the Sea festivals I attended in both Devon and Cornwall when I was young. It did make me wonder as to which Bridge Inn they normally drink at, as there are obviously many, but part of me hopes that it is the one at Topsham, which is a Grade II listed public house and definitely worth a visit if you enjoy proper beer.
The traditional “Hambledon Fair” is somewhat unusual in SoH’s canon, in that Phil doesn’t perform as instead the viola is played by Jackie Oates, and Steve and Miranda are also joined by Chris Hoban on accordion. From looking at the album, it reminds me of the classic ‘Country Life’ for some reason (note to self – must buy a new copy as mine is literally falling to pieces) but musically it goes back even further. This is a very special album from SoH, only time and multiple plays will allow me to fully gauge where it sits among their studio works, but this is currently vying with ‘Witness’ for second place, and all the evidence suggests that it will soon be closing on ‘Country Life’. Surely not. Show of Hands are surely one of the finest bands ever to come out of the UK, no matter the genre, and this album should be in the collection of good music lovers everywhere.
