"Scarecrow Stuffing" by THE SPECTRAL LIGHT & MOONSHINE FIREFLY SNAKEOIL JAMBOREE [HOLLR991]. Available for �9.99 (+ �1.50 postage) from Dark Holler UK, The Coach House, Maypole Road, Langford, Essex CM9 4TA, England.
THIS one was recommended to me by Michael Moynihan of the group BLOOD AXIS, with whom I�d been discussing my penchant for old-time Bluegrass and things of a decidedly Appalachian nature. I�m very grateful for the tip, too, because despite the fact that it has been turned down by several record companies this Timothy
Renner CD is finger-lickin� good and deserves a place in the collection of anyone with a serious liking for gothic-folk. The opening track, "God Bless the Moon", was gleaned from a Jean Richie LP and is beautifully suited for Sarada�s eerie and haunting vocal range. Next comes my own favourite, "Tom Dula", a dark little number sung by the talented banjo player Timothy Renner who, apart from TSL&MFSJ has put into motion two other interesting musical projects. The song itself - which resembles one of those nasty little nursery rhymes used to scare the hell out of unruly brats - is a gloomy warning to all prospective lady-killers who think they can get away with murdering the girl of their dreams because she has steadfastly refused to enter into
matrimony. Poor old Tom, evidently, ended up �hangin� from a white oak tree�, an event which obviously inspired the harrowing (for some) photograph which accompanies the CD. "Path of Nails" is the only song to employ a bass guitar but it works superbly and reminds me somewhat of a LEONARD COHEN number, as does the consequent offering, "Black Horse Ride". This is just too good to be true, and once again we have Sarada�s spiralling harmonies echoing amidst Timothy�s deeply uttered mantras. This is followed by "Cold Rain and Snow" which, in truth, could have been recorded by the early-70�s Folk group, PLANXTY. R.A. Campbell�s mandolin gives this song a decidedly hypnotic air and Prydwyn sounds more like Andy Irvine than the great man ever did himself. The "Song of the Scarecrow" is next, an ode to nature and the patient guardian that faithfully watches the fields by day and with the approach of nightfall strides tunefully amidst the shadows. A touch of traditional Bluegrass is then brought into play with an instrumental called "Walkin� In the Parlour", reminiscent of the old BILL MONROE numbers of the �40�s and �50�s. Anyone familiar with NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS will appreciate the dark rhythms of "A Conversation With Death". This is a song about the role of death itself and the fact that the impervious ears of the Reaper remain unsympathetic to man�s pleas for mercy and a postponement of his inevitable fate. "The Bone Collector" is a combination of guitar, dulcimer and flute, and but for a little added eclecticism would not be out of place on a JETHRO TULL LP. Now the consequent track, "The Cuckoo", is definitely akin to early LEONARD COHEN and the interplay of catfish and slide guitars is a joy. "Stealing the Fire From Heaven" adds a classical theme to the CD, but in this case the famous Grecian legend about Prometheus is celebrated as an expression of inseparable love. Quite unrelated to THE STANLEY BROTHERS� Bluegrass classic, "Little Maggie", TSL&MFSJ�s "Little Margaret" is a brief excursion into the ghostly realms of love beyond the grave. Meanwhile, "House Carpenter" is an old Pennsylvanian folk song performed with a creaking bull fiddle and tells of love, loss and penultimate death, whilst "Thirteen" is well-known to me from JOHNNY CASH�s "American Recordings" CD, issued in 1994 (but
is a great cover, nonetheless). Following hot on the heels of this we have "Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down", a song strikingly similar to those apocalyptic ditties performed in the Process Church coffee houses by CHANGES during the early-70�s. Finally, "Bright Morning Stars" is a hidden (and consequently unnamed) track with more than a hint of gospel-like spirituality, although I very much doubt whether TSL&MFSJ can be regarded as your average bible-bashing combo!! A first class CD and well done to all concerned.
MERRYMOON RATING: 9 out of 10
"My Friend is a Mule in the Mines: Old Time Excursions by BOB BUCKINGHAM & FRIENDS [HOLLR881]. Available for �9.99 (+ �1.50 postage) from Dark Holler UK, The Coach House, Maypole Road, Langford, Essex CM9 4TA, England.
ANOTHER masterpiece from Tim Renner and his Dark Holler label. This time we have Tim paying his respects to friend and mentor, BOB BUCKINGHAM, an old-time Pennsylvanian fiddle and clawhammer banjo player renowned for his efforts with the York Folk Dance
Association and their popular outfit the CONTRA REBELS. This is Bob�s first recording and apart from fiddle and banjo he also sings and plays guitar. He is joined by Reed Martin (banjo) on four duets and also by Todd Clewell (bass, guitar, vocals), Bob Hess (guitar, banjo) and the aforementioned Tim Renner (banjo). The CD kicks off in fine style with "Old Molly Hare" and "Sandy River Belle", a talented brace of foot-tappers and hardly a case of �fooling around� as the CD insert would have us believe! Next we have "Going Down South", the first of two orthodox Blues numbers (the other being the brilliant "Lying Blues") and whilst this type of music isn�t really my cup of tea I have to admit that Bob even had me tapping along to this one. "Ramblin' Gambler" is a real stunner and lyrically very similar to "The Moonshiner", an Irish Folk tune recorded by THE CLANCY BROTHERS & TOMMY MAKEM: 'I�m a rambler, I�m a gambler, I�m a long way from
home / If you don�t like me Then leave me alone.' The following tune, "Forked Deer", is a personal favourite of mine and features in Happy Traum�s highly famed guide to "Bluegrass Guitar". Bob has an amusing little anecdote with regard to this particular track: 'This fine old fiddle tune came from the playing of Harold Carney. Harold was a retired miner with black lung when I met him. He moseyed over to a jam Zack Allen and I were having under a tree in Zack�s back yard in June of 1973. Said he played a little fiddle, and then proceeded to play for nearly five hours, non-stop.' Now that�s what I call modesty! Incidentally, the tune was also recorded on the American Heritage label by DAN CRARY. The title track, "My Friend Is a Mule In the Mines", is
completely unaccompanied and harks back to the period when mining was facilitated equestrian style and without the use of tracks and coal wagons. This is actually taken from a song Bob�s grandfather used to sing for the local Bishop when he retired from the Methodist clergy. Needless to say, it is recorded in his honour. "Long Steel Rails" is one of the first tunes Bob ever got
to grips with and here we have that laid-back Appalachian vocal style mixed with the sweet overlapping strains of the melodic and rhythmic banjos, and one can almost picture that lazy old train as it chugs its way down the line. "Unicorn" is a DUKE CRISWELL
number and was almost lost in the midst of time until it was introduced to Bob by Criswell�s own son. In this form it serves as a fitting revival. Bob�s rendition of "Ground Hog" tells of an age in which the brains of these little critters were viewed by local Pennsylvania folk as a tasty delicacy. Unsurprisingly, since the decline of this culinary practice ground hogs seem to be far more prevalent in the area! The best track on the whole CD
is the brilliant "Soldier�s Joy", a song dear to my own heart and one also favoured by the family of the famous Dorset novelist Thomas Hardy. A scratchy bass is slapped merrily between the sweeping banjos and the final result is mind-blowing. This is the most original version I�ve ever had the pleasure to come across. Top marks for arrangement. Forget whether the chicken came before the egg or the egg before the chicken, "Dark Holler Blues" has us wondering whether the song came before the record label (or vice versa). Maybe we�ll never find out for sure, but here it stands out proudly like the anthem of the label itself and is a howling combination of Blues and Bluegrass. And what of "Liberty"? Herein that ol� bass-slappin� technique is employed once again and this merry ditty reminds me a little of "Red-Haired Boy". The haunting "Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down" - also covered by Renner�s
SPECTRAL LIGHT & MOONSHINE FIREFLY SNAKEOIL JAMBOREE - is slightly different to its more gothic counterpart although it does still possess the same power and range and is just as good. "Mole In The Ground" is probably the most traditional tune of all in terms of being influenced by Bluegrass music and would sit nicely on any average STANLEY BROTHERS' release. I love it! The next two offerings, "The Yellow Rose of Texas" (already a well
known tune in America and elsewhere) and "Sourwood Mountain" are laid down with both enthusiasm and vigour, with the latter being rather significant in that it was Tim�s 'first solid banjo tune'. Sally Ann is a very structured and melodic instrumental, with the banjo almost being used as a substitute for vocals. Last of all,
comes "Improv/Deal". Something of an afterthought, perhaps, but still endemic of that wildly infectious banjo sound that permeates the whole of this excellent release from Dark Holler. But even apart from all the music itself, the most enduring thing about this CD is that it represents the continuation of a long and fruitful tradition which has been handed down through three generations. Bob may have been Tim Renner�s own tutor but on
this recording pays respect to his own mentors, men like FRANK PROFITT, JOHN COHEN and DUKE CRISWELL. When all is said and done there are some rip-roaring tunes on here and anyone with an ounce of sense and appreciation of great music will venture out and grab this little beauty as soon as possible.
MERRYMOON RATING: 8 out of 10
