Reviews

Artist: Damien Barber & Mike Wilson
Album: The Old Songs
Label: DBS
Tracks: 11
Website: www.damienandmike.co.uk

Maybe I’m in the minority but I could never quite get into the (in my ears anyway) raucous singing of Peter Bellamy although I was constantly told I was missing the point by those that knew better. Perhaps they did know better, still it didn’t stop me liking the songs themselves and I always to this day enjoy a good retelling of anything by Kipling (after all he does make exceedingly…no, I won’t even go there!).

To the matter in hand and here we have two perfect exponents in the art of acapella singing which we are directed to from the opening track “The Charlady’s Son”. Both Damien and Mike have expressive voices and aren’t averse to getting down and dirty in their delivery which comes across in a powerful and very musical performance that would have done Cosmotheka and Jim Mageean & Johnny Collins proud.

The duo’s harmonies are tight without a hint of hesitation and delivered with an assuredness still rare to find these days amongst other artists of a similar disposition. Their choice of material throughout the album is spot-on including “Come Write Me Down”, “The Old Songs” and MacColl’s truly classic “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” which utilises a stark but evocative concertina accompaniment. I couldn’t agree more with Mike Harding’s quote that this is a superb album and if you’re a newcomer to ‘folk’ music an absolute must purchase

Peter Fyfe

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