Blackbeard's Tea Party
Album: Whip Jamboree
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.blackbeardsteaparty.com/

I always a bit partial to an album when I know I can use the word raucous in the review and as "Whip Jamboree" bears the seal of former Fatea live band nominees, Blackbeard's Tea Party, I could feel a smile creep across my face and I hadn't even heard the first note of the first song, "The Valiant Turpin", seeing as you asked.

There has been a bit of a change since the last album, "Tomorrow We'll Be Sober", Stuart Giddens has replaced Paul Young on melodeon and vocals and Tim Yates has got himself a new double neck bass, others in the band may also have new instruments, but to my knowledge, not ones they bid on live during a gig, there's audacity for you.

"Whip Jamboree" is a riotous and raucous selection of songs penned from within the band, largely at the fair hand of fiddle player, Laura Barber, plus a goodly selection of traditional songs learnt both from the playing of other musicians and from the net, then delivered in a combination of shanty, ceilidh and straight forward band songs and tunes.

During the course of the album they dip into both Kipling and Thackary so you know that they are taking in a grand range of influences and whilst a lot of the album is a hell for leather romp through some great music, they do remember to give you a chance to pause for breath before rejoining the fray.

On the instrumental front, the stand out set for me is "Devil In The Kitchen", but there are so many great moments spread across the album, check out their version of "Bulgine", which they've preceded with another traditional piece, "Sherriff's Ride"

Blackbeard's Tea Party are now establishing themselves as much as a recorded outfit as well as live. The track selection and references during "Whip Jamboree" are once again interspersed with references to their home base of York, which helps give them an identity, not that they need one, they are becoming instantly recognisable.

Neil King