"This fantastic collection of maritime material is a must for all salty sea dogs. Made to celebrate Sea Britain year,a comprehensive album of eighteen tracks and twenty seven titles which lasts nearly seventy-six minutes. shantys, hornpipes, set dances, jigs, reels, Heroic songs, Laments and ballads. Including five tracks linked to Admiral Lord Nelson.REVIEW.Informative and clever sleeve notes introduce a special folk album by this five-piece band, who demonstrate a genuine love and understanding for their genre across 18 recordings here. Tinged throughout with a strong maritime theme, this is the latest in their impressive series and highlights some truly knockout group singing and astute playing". Musician. The journal of the Musicians Union."This English group features Brian Gulland, whose bassoon, oboe and cor anglais were a big part of the baroque 'n' roll band Gryphon and the French folk rock band Malicorne. On Out on the Ocean, the New Scorpion Band's fifth CD, he also plays whistle, hammer dulcimer, organ, jug, and percussion, and is joined by four other multi-instrumentalists and vocalists who among them play about two dozen instrument, including violin, viola, concertina, melodeon, English guitar, banjo, guitar, mandolin, bagpipes, flute, recorder, and even a tuba. This richness of brass, strings and woodwind necessarily gives their music a dense, big band sound that's unusual in the folk scene, but common to village bands in various parts of England. Their opening song, a breezy take on the Collier Brig, oom-pahs along pleasantly from verse to verse, pausing for instrumental breaks consisting of popular polkas. They do gussy up some chanteys with unusual arrangements; the capstan Bar is arranged almost as a lullaby, with gently plucked guitar and beautiful countermelodies on Northumbrian smallpipes and cor anglais. They are also capably of doing a very comfortable job with an unaccompanied chantey, as they demonstrate with convincing performances of Roll and Go, Sally Brown, The Wild Goose Chantey and others. Finally they treat a number of entertaining Naval ballads, including High Barbaree, Nelson's Death, and a pretty version of On Board a 98. In all, with 76 minutes of music a booklet of interesting notes, and some fine artwork and photos, it's a splendid disc". Dirty Linen USA.
"Since I first saw the band a few years ago I have followed their progress closely and they have never let me down...Tim has surrounded himself with an extremely well-rounded bunch of musicians and singers here who can use their music to great effect in creating exactly the right atmosphere required by any song they chose to sing. They are the ideal travelling folk orchestra and this collection is a perfect example of this ideal. There are several offerings that would make great maritime movie soundtracks! Mention should be made here of the exquisite and informative insert booklet the care and attention given to this is equal to that of the music itself... it's difficult to single out a best track...all titles are masterfully executed with care sensitivity and panache. Make no mistake, these are guys and gals who can not only sing and play but also understand very well the genre they work with...This recording is authentic without being tired or dated quietly authoritative and entertaining without patronisation and I see no reason why any self respecting enthusiast would not want this in their collection...a great piece of work for sure".
Keith Kendrick. EDS magazine
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