Album Notes

The following is a review from fRoots magazine-- the magazine that highlights folk, roots and traditional music from around the world. Check out www.fRootsmag.com for more information.


"Alex Caton’s an ex-pat English fiddler, singer and songwriter now resident in Virginia where she’s part of what seems to be an extraordinarily healthy music scene around Charlottesville (home also to our recent fave Devon Sproule). We found her a year ago via MySpace and that excellent all-women band Las Gitanas who are, sadly, no more – but she seems to play simultaneously in numerous other outfits as well as pursuing a solo career, hosting workshops and all sorts.
Old-time music’s been on a fresh roll for a while now, rejuvenated by younger performers in much the same way as Britfolk has been. And like it is here, you can divide artists and bands into those who stick by the old rule book (regardless of the amount of enthusiasm they throw into it) and those who bring an original angle. Alex is definitely one of the latter, but in a sweet and unassuming way which has genuine charm. In other hands, bringing songs like The Cure’s Boys Don’t Cry or The Stones’ Factory Girl into the genre would be trumpeted as the stuff of rebellion, but Alex gently drops them into the mix with the same casual and homely approach that she applies to oldtime mainstream classics like Bonaparte’s Retreat, Bob Tailed Mule or Uncle Dave Macon’s Skillet Good & Greasy, or her own could-be-traditional songs like Hitch To The Altar.

Her fiddling’s got an understated, natural swing and her vocals are nicely laid back with none of those hard nasal edges which often render oldtime and bluegrass a difficult listening chore in very little time. A couple of tracks on here are sung by Pat Egan which, while pleasant, somehow interrupt the ambience by bringing in a male voice. But otherwise, surrounded by excellent sidespersons, I’m struck that this is music which would work just as well in my back garden as full tilt on a club or festival stage. And that’s a real skill!"

www.alexcaton.com

Ian Anderson