Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting, Nancy Kerr
Album: Murmurs
Label: Topic
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.topicrecords.co.uk

A new project involving any of the above-mentioned cornerstone folk musicians is bound to prove at very least of considerable interest, and the cautious, low-profile touring-together of all three of them over the past months to "road-test" a clutch of new material has, I'm told, been the cause of not a little excitement and anticipation for this studio album release, which turns out to be every inch the utterly consummate product that its illustrious pedigree would indicate.

Murmurs is a very even-handed affair, whereby, for all that the majority of the disc's dozen tracks may seem to place the primary focus on one of the three participants, the individual contributions are brilliantly coordinated within a rich and exquisitely managed collaborative setting. There's a wonderful, joyful, intimate feel about the music-making, a togetherness and an as-live quality of entire ease-with-the-material-and-each-other that permeates the recording too (the genius of Andy Bell again!). The three musicians slip so effortlessly and comfortably (and empathically) from style to style within the compass of the disc's dozen tracks, internally processing then melding each one (and its treatment) into a cohesive genre-straddling entity, a hybrid animal that both exemplifies and reflects at the same time the worlds of English traditional song and dance, Atlantic-crossing balladry, old-time, and quality, perceptive contemporary folk songwriting.

In the latter sphere, of course, Martin and Nancy are both active and highly accomplished, each combining in his/her own special way a gift for conveying both a wistful nostalgia and poignant evocation of place and a keen appreciation of nature in all its aspects and colours and of its impact on our lives. On Martin's Dark Swift And Bright Swallow, a sighting of the latter bird on Slapton Ley nature reserve triggered an emotive connection with wartime events at nearby Slapton Sands, while Toy Soldiers takes its cue from deeper observations concerning gamekeeping. Nancy's charming Dark Honey was inspired by a sighting of urban bees in her garden, while Not Even The Ground started as a love song and became a caring commentary on fracking. Andy's gorgeous waltz Seven Years sits so very well in such company, as do the complementary instrumental selections, the gleeful bouncy Richmond Cotillion, the Northumbrian tune Lads Of Alnwick and a suitably funky-oldtimey-style medley. Martin treats us to an outstanding, powerful yet lyrical Plains Of Waterloo and a keen realisation of Fair Rosamund (learnt from a fragment sung by Hedy West), and a neat cover of Lal Waterson's irrepressible Some Old Salty, while Nancy's vibrant new retelling of classic Child ballad The Cruel Mother uses a version I'd not heard before and finds a relentless yet entirely apt 5/4 tune for it. If I've missed any tracks out, that's no reflection on their quality!

Talking of which, the deluxe edition of this album comprises the standard twelve-track CD plus five bonus tracks, then a companion DVD disc containing a "making of the album" documentary, a superb bonus track (Ruben) from the album sessions, and finally a short interview in which each of the trio talks about the instruments they played on the session. All eminently worth the extra outlay, especially since the bonus material proves no reject-pile makeweight (it includes an ebullient cover by Nancy of the old raggy-blues standard Stealin', as well as a well-observed Jim Causley setting of distant relative Charles's poem Angel Hill, and Martin's refreshingly measured treatment of Boston Smuggler). Finally, the package and design of this release is exemplary, featuring not only full texts and notes but also some truly beautiful photography including a stunning covershot (by Lincolnshire ornithologist Graham Catley) of a starling murmuration. Oh what a dilemma - Murmurs will now be vying for the "album of the year" title with Eliza & Tim's Bottle…!

David Kidman