The Albion Band
Album: Under The Rose
Label: Talking Elephant
Tracks: 8
Website: http://www.talkingelephant.co.uk

A re-release from 1984, "Under the Rose" has Ashley Hutchings and co showing signs of the kind of schizophrenia typical of those emerging blinking into the harsh light of the 1980s from the wreckage of "folk-rock". Joined by relative youngsters, vocalist Cathy Lesurf (Oyster Band) and multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer (soon to be of Show of Hands), with Trevor Foster on drums and Doug Morter on guitars, the album finds the band waxing lyrical and somewhat melancholy.

Opener "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" quotes liberally from Shakespeare, whilst Lesurf sings regretfully of lost chances. The album does worryingly remind me of something which wouldn't have appeared out of place appearing at the end on "Pebble Mill" at around this time - mature, adult-orientated rock which, whilst admirably played, sung and harmonised, does seem to be struggling to find a niche for itself. The songs might not be out of place in a Lloyd Webber musical in some cases. The production is also firmly of the early 80s, reinforced by the presence of "special guest" Max Clifford (surely not that one?!) on synthesizers, especially on "Rascals" and "Heart".

The title track "Dancing Under the Rose" does become slightly more engaging, with mandolin and fiddle further to the front of the production; you do feel that the ensemble was more comfortable with the rootsier approach of this track, and of the following one, Lesurf's "Broken", which wouldn't have disgraced an album from Richard and Linda Thompson had they struggled on to that juncture! Beer's "Sailor's Rest Hornpipe" is just that, and merges into Hutchings and songwriting partner Dave Whetstone's "The Shipwreck" which closes proceedings with a reversion to the slightly po-faced approach with which they'd opened.

Probably one for those looking to complete their Hutchings or Beer collections.

Harry Thompson