HowdenJones
Album: No Hot Bottoms On The Worktops!
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 18
Website: http://www.howdenjones.co.uk

Howdenjones is (are) Kate Howden and Paul Jones, a singer-songwriter couple based in the north-west (Lancashire). I've known them almost since they served their apprenticeship at local folk clubs in and around the north (Yorkshire in particular), which is a good 15 years ago now; I was really impressed even then by their sense of presence, their finely honed performance and communication skills, and of course by their magical self-penned songs, gentle vocal harmonies and confident instrumental prowess - especially Paul's deft, assured and intensely proficient guitar playing. Kate and Paul made waves on the acoustic circuit, released a series of highly competent albums that went a long way towards capturing the intense beauty and intimacy and genial excitement of their live act, along the way making excursions into trio performance (with multi-instrumentalist Tony Taffinder and, later, fiddle player Sarah Cheffins). These included a couple of live albums, and all the while the duo were developing new instrumental skills too, but after album number six, Red Diesel And Southwesterlies, I kindof lost touch with Kate and Paul (apparently they did a lot of village-hall touring and collaborated with a number of other musicians and released another album…).

But they've always enjoyed travelling and sharing their experiences and creating new music, and since 2007, they've been working on the National Rural Touring circuit, which promotes music and performing arts in rural areas. They re-emerged onto my personal radar only recently, with the arrival for review of this their eighth CD, which celebrates their 2015 "No Halls Barred" tour of village halls and community venues. As it turns out, the only thing wrong I can find with this generously packed 73-minute disc is its rather unprepossessing, needlessly jokey title, which doesn't reflect the wonderful music within.

The 18 tracks are almost all self-penned - 15 songs and three instrumentals (the exception being the middle tune of the vibrant Tichy Tunes set, written by Sarah). Their writing is inspired by the very best of role-models - Sandy Denny, the English troubadour songwriters and tradition. And as regards the unquestionable calibre of Kate and Paul's songwriting, I can't do better than quote a review I wrote back in 2001 of their magnificent Silver Waters album: "expression is simple and unselfconscious, using plain language clearly enunciated, but there's no lack of poetry or gentle compassion. The well observed and crafted songs have an assuredly melodic quality." And I see no reason to change one word of that assessment now - although that shouldn't be taken to imply that they've not moved on or progressed musically over time. No, they've just gotten even better at what they do. As this new CD, which presents fresh new close-up, stripped-down acoustic performances of many of their finest creations, some in quite different arrangements from their original incarnations but all still possessing the duo's special intimacy of expression and guaranteeing audience involvement right from the first note to the very last. Personally (but then I'm biased!) I'd single out Mistletoe, Pretty Fair Maid, Goodnight Dynamite, Anti-War Song, Moonwaltz, Yeppe Knave and McAlpine's Feast - which I realise amounts to close on half the tracks! - but each and every composition is thoroughly captivating: "beautiful music for beautiful places", indeed. (But hey, why no Andalucia or Ne'er Do Well…?)

David Kidman