Reviews
Artist:Amalthea
Venue:Bournemouth Folk Club
Town:Bournemouth
Date:27/01/08
Website:www.myspace.com/amaltheauk
I've been waiting to see Amalthea since I first heard their debut album last year. That the gig turned out to be a headline session at my local folk club was a bit of a bonus.
Normally a duo, Helen Andrews(voice/guitar) and Deborah Peake(Fiddle), the band were joined on stage by Chris as Helen had a wrist injury that had left her unable to play. It's an ill wind that blows no good as it lead to some really good between song banter.
You were given the story of frantic rehearsal, facial gestures for chord changes, I guess you had to be there. That said you wouldn't have know it, but for a point where Deborah and Chris had been talking about a tricky bit, new arrangement. You could almopst feel the tension, the two of them looking intently at each other ensuring they got it absolutely spot on. Would they do it, yes they did and Helen missed her cue. It didn't matter a jot, but a smile and a round of appluase later, you felt the audience warm to them that much quicker.
The set was littered with great vocal and instrumental performances. Amalthea know how to write and interpret songs and poetry. The set included new material and songs from hundreds of years ago.
Andrews has a voice that is fresh and sharp. Like a good cider it packs a punch, is full of great flavours and clean edges. An Amalthea gig refreshes, it brings energy from the stage into the audience. Nothing is forced it has a natural feel. Peake's fiddle playing seems smooth and effortless, even when you know it's going at ninteen to the dozen.
With such a variety of songs you never know what is coming next. Traditional, English, Celtic, country all vi for position. At one point there wqas even mention of "Living On A Prayer", which turned out to be a cover of "Living Prayer" a very different song indeed, as Chris pointed out."
The sign of a good gig is that you can't really believe where the time went when they reached the last song. Amalthea made it seem like a very short evening.
They were helped in their task but a whole host of great musicians playing the opening stint. I know I'm missing people out. I mislaid the sheet of paper I was jotting the names down on. Bob Burke, Amy Newsome Stone, The Chris Simmons Band, Alex Roberts and others, all contributed to a really special evening
The three quid entrance fee for folkstage night made the whole thing seem like a steal.