Reviews
Artist:Isle 'Ave A Shanty Album: Swinging The Lamp
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 13
Website: https://www.isleaveashanty.com
'Swinging The Lamp' is the first album release from acapella male harmony group Isle 'Ave A Shanty. Based in the land locked Isle of Ely, the 6 piece band first started to sing sea shanties as a bit of fun after coming together in a local choir. They quickly started to make a name for themselves with the drive and impetus of their live shows, but, along with so much else, the advent of Covid stopped them in their tracks. However, undeterred, the band continued to meet and rehearse in the outside as allowed within the Covid rules of the time, and even kept their chops up by doing live shows in the gardens of care homes and the like.
Accordingly, in keeping the buzz going 2022 is shaping up to be a great year for them with many live shows and festivals already in the bag, so it couldn't be a better time for a debut album release.
The thirteen track album consists of some of the bands favourite sea shanties, both traditional and contemporary, along with one self written track 'Fishermen Of Ely'.
Recorded live in the studio by multi talented Barry Watson, who also produced the record, the boys all gathered round 6 strategically place mics and rattled through the songs with the aim of putting out an album that replicated the live experience as closely as possible, but perhaps being just a little cleaner and without the whoops and cheers of course!
Whilst the oral tradition and unaccompanied singing has been the bedrock of traditional folk music since time immemorial, and continues to be in many Folk Clubs across the land, it is less present in a commercial sense. Having said this, pretty much everyone who likes any sort of music will have heard of Cornwall's Fisherman's Friends, even more so after 2019's film about them, and a lot more may have caught the recent Tik Tok sensation Nathan Evans 'the singing postman', who's sea shanty exploits won him a record deal. Of course, if you have a bunch of singers like Isle 'Ave A Shanty who seem willing to play almost anywhere, including pubs, festivals and care homes, then cross over appeal is guaranteed.
So, on to the music and opening song 'Nelson's Blood' is a cracker, rich and oaky solo voice kicking things off before the harmonies roll in and push things through, 'A Sailor Ain't A Sailor' follows in equally jaunty fashion before the self penned 'Fisherman Of Ely' keeps the momentum going seamlessly.
'Keep Hauling' is beautifully reflective and the collective voices capture a real sense of longing, 'Santiana' conjures up adventures on far away shores and the clever 'John Kanaka' presents a tongue twisting challenge that the boys rise to with aplomb.
Having watched some online videos of Isle 'Ave A Shanty playing live, it seems it's impossible for others not to join in with gusto, no matter if it's in a pub where the drink is flowing or somewhere altogether more sedate, the music is infectious. I think there's also something very moving in listening to this collection of voices capturing these songs, not least because their sheer love of singing is so perfectly captured by producer Barry Watson.
The standard and variety is maintained throughout the rest of the album and although every now and then there's the odd wavering note, this is eminently forgiveable when considering the demands acapella music makes upon the performers. There's nowhere to hide here.
Other favourites of mine are the percussive 'Good Ship Bess', yearning regret of 'Leave Her Johnny' and the positively sprightly bounce of 'South Australia'.
This is a lovely debut album from Isle 'Ave A Shanty which will do their growing reputation no harm at all, and it's probably just a very close second to catching them performing these fine songs live.
Paul Jackson
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