Reviews

Artist: Pinkie MacLure & John Wills
Album: The Cat's Cradle
Label: Trefingle
Tracks: 8
Rating: ****
Contact: www.pinkiemaclure.co.uk

The Cat's Cradle is an album that was conceived and delivered by Pinkie MacLure and John Wills. With the exception of  the traditional song "Fine Flowers In The Valley", the duo, wrote, performed and produced the album.
In earlier years as a solo artist on One Little Indian, Pinkie excelled as an artist that used the voice as an instrument and not just a way of carrying the lyric. That has brought immense benefit to this album
It has some of the best instrumental sections in songs that I've heard in a while. It's an album that reminds you that folk is a living tradition. A lot of the folk that people are aware of is driven and fast. The Cat's Cradle is thoughtful and reflective, a canny combination of laments, soundscapes woven around strong poetry.
The quality of playing and the blend of instruments tell you that there is something different about this. It's as vital as the acid croft movement, but going off in a very tangental way.
Lyre, concertina, melodeon and voice combine with more familiar guitar and drums to find a style that references a lot of traditional folk, but manages to find a different route to the goal.
This is an album that at times seems to be dark and brooding. You sometimes feel it's like the best of the murder ballads, but without a body. It is at all times enlightening and refreshing.
John Wills and Pinkie MacLure have produced an album that they can be proud off. If there's any justice, they'll be up for the Horizon award next year.
In the meantime if you have a problem finding the album in the shops. Give the band's website a visit.