A Wonderful Debut
author: Steve Bailey
Scottish born Wendy Arrowsmith's debut release "Now Then ?" is a combination time and travel machine, loaded with the 13 beautiful tracks, some traditional Scottish & Irish, some self penned by Wendy. All of which are ready to take you away---all one needs is to close your eyes and listen and you will find yourself in
a time long ago, or a place, I for one long to be
.
Track one, the self penned "The Visitor" is the absolute stand out on this album, close your eyes and you will feel as if you are there in 1881. Other standouts include "The Great Silkie", "Mac Pherson's Farewell", "The Loch Tay Boat Song", "Dream Angus", "Smile In Your Sleep", "She Moved Through The Fair", and "Skipio". Track after track on "Now Then ?" stand ready to take you to a special place and time
My American ears have Irish and Scottish roots, I am not sure how much but I do know this, when I listen to Wendy Arrowsmith's "Now Then?" I feel's as if I am home.
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Tradition and Invention
author: Resonator Ghost
This beautiful collection of folk music from the North Yorkshire-based artist Wendy Arrowsmith opens not with a traditional tune, but one that is destined to become one. In 1881 the brig "Visitor" ran aground in Robin's Hood Bay, North Yorkshire. It happened during a time of high winds and seas with snow drifts on the land reaching as high as seven feet. "The Visitor", a heroic ballad written by Wendy Arrowsmith captures the spirit of the courageous rescue better than any prose narrative can hope to do. A haunting banjo counterpoint accompanies her exceptional voice as the tale plays out in song. This is the perfect song to introduce the pleasures that lie ahead.
The next song "The Great Silkie" and five more songs are traditonal songs, two of them, including "The Great Silkie" are enhanced by the Uilleann pipes of Liam Haicead. The ensemble of fine musicians, all named in the CD notes above, come together in these recordings in a synergy that makes the traditonal songs sound new. It would be a wonderful treat to see Wendy Arrowsmith and her ensemble perform live, but for those of us who can't, this CD is a gift from the artist.
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