'Two' become one
It’s at this time of year that I start looking for a piece of music, or an album, that becomes the soundtrack to my summer. And this joint effort by Williams and Maccoll is definitely making the shortlist. If you like your folk-pop low-key and mellow, this a definite must. The whole feel of the album isn’t entirely traditional British folk, but has interesting tinges of the southern-fried American road-trips, and acoustic pop. This stunning record is exactly what you’d hope for from two well-respected modern folksters.
As intimate as sitting opposite the musicians as they play, this record has a home-made, imperfect quality that suits the music well. Williams’ and Maccoll’s voices blend perfectly, whilst being just different enough to sound interesting. Imperfectly perfect. Their cutely quirky version of ‘Innocent When You Dream’ is a perfect example of deliberate discords, resonant acoustic guitar, and softly-softly blending vocals.
‘6am Corner’ has a woozy folk feel that brings back memories of creeping back home in the small hours of the morning after a night on the tiles. This record is delicate in every sense of the word: examining fragile feelings, moments, and relationships. Sliding guitars, fiddles, and vocals niceties, such as on the spooky ‘Grey Goes’, stop these songs from getting too cosy and familiar, although at times we tread familiar territory that threatens to slip into repetitiveness.
I was flicking through my record collection trying to think of a good parallel, when I cam across it in an unusual place. It sounds quite like a sedate version of what Robert Plant does, both with Jimmy Page (as in ‘No Quarter’ rather than Zeppelin), and Alison Krauss, as well as as a soloist. Worldly, dreamy folk-with-an-edge.
It’s obvious from the first notes that this is a pairing made in heaven. Or at least at the Daughters of Albion concert. It seems to be a very homely affair, drawing on the family influences from Maccoll’s side, and Williams’ Mercury-nominated songwriting skill. In fact, the whole album was done in two weeks. Despite being a record of a very special, if brief, moment in time, this album is clearly in no rush. And thank goodness, because it will hopefully be around for a long time yet.