ALBION – It Was In The Month Of May 1 (own label)

Something about the cover of It Was In The Month Of May 1, the second full length album from folk rockers Albion, made me think it would be an interesting listen. I was also intrigued by the band’s claim to combine the ancient and modern by blending folk with heavy metal. Having listened several times, it certainly does bring a new angle to folk music.

Listening to this album it doesn’t come as a surprise that band leader Joe Parrish-James, on vocals guitars, mandolin and flute, is a past member of Jethro Tull, nor that guitarist Jack Clark is a current member. It Was In The Month Of May 1 brings memories of prog rock, and even seventies medieval rock. There are long tracks, with complex guitar orchestration (Joe has a degree in classical composition). The lyrics – strongly influenced by Tolkien and Arthurian legend – tell of folk legends and knights of old. But there is variety here, and the album opens with a very good piece of acoustic folk.

Sung in Welsh, ‘Mis Mai’ is a setting of a poem, celebrating the arrival of Spring, by the great Welsh medieval poet, Daffyd ap Gwilym. With delicate guitar accompanying Joe’s fine vocals, this is a beautiful opening track. After that gentle opener, the electric guitar and pounding drums, at the start of ‘The Green Knight,’ arrive like a thunderstorm breaking through on a clear, sunny day. On this track we hear Joe’s flute – played in a sharp, staccato fashion – as well as the second lead vocalist, Rhiannon Parrish-James. This is a powerful piece of medieval rock, with long instrumental sequences and some frantic guitar orchestrations, before finishing with a gentler, acoustic sequence.

The lyrics of ‘The Green Knight’ tell of the Arthurian legend of the same name. The track is dedicated to the author of one version of that story, US folklorist, and academic Joseph Campbell. The role of the hero in mythology was a major topic of Campbell’s writing, so it might be appropriate that the following track is called ‘Down With The Hero.’ This has a rhythmic, folk rock tune, without the heavy medieval influence of its predecessor. Of all the tunes on this album, this is the one that stays most in my mind. The lyrics are a reworking of a common story in folk song, where a sailor takes a woman on board ship, and stirs up superstitious fears among shipmates. Think of ‘Canadee-I-O’ or ‘The Banks Of Green Willow.’ Like the second of those examples, the outcome in this version is tragic.

A series of tracks inspired by the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien follow. ‘Eldest’ is inspired by a Tolkien character, Tom Bombadil. Surprisingly, I thought the acoustic opening has a slightly American lilt, but it doesn’t last long before folk rock, with a very medieval feel, kicks in. This is a long track, with an ambitious arrangement. After the main body of lyrics end, it uses the device of seeming to end before striking up again. That is followed by an instrumental sequence with folk dance elements and some good flute playing. The flute is also prominent in the acoustic passage that brings the track to an end.

The subject of ‘She Is The River’ is Tom Bombadil’s wife, Goldberry. This is an acoustic track, with good interplay of flute and guitar. The lyrics are poetic and mysterious: “She is the ruler of the Golden Morning, Dew, Upon the Green, With a voice of Spring in bloom.” The Tolkien theme continues with ‘Hym To Elbereth,’ with lyrics taken directly from his writing. After a mystical, flute led opening, the tune becomes livelier and, at times reminded me of a Tudor madrigal. ‘Cherry Hill’ is a nice track, with a hauntingly melancholy tune, and more quizzical, Tolkienesque lyrics.

‘The Hobbit’ is sub-titled ‘There And Back Again,’ so it feels appropriate that It was in the Month of May 1 ends where it begins, with Wales in Springtime. ‘Calan Mai’ is named for the traditional Welsh May Day celebration, which marks the coming of Spring and celebrates the fertility of the land. The lyrics combine bucolic festivities with folklore and procreation. The track opens with a short, gentle acoustic guitar passage, before the tempo picks up and the lively tune nicely evokes village revelry. This is another long track, at just over ten minutes, and ends with a long and epic instrumental sequence, which provides a great conclusion to the album.

I’ll admit that on my first listening to It Was In The Month Of May I, I found the Tolkienesque, and sword and sorcery type lyrics a bit off putting. With further listening though, I’ve come to appreciate what the album has to offer musically. With a mix of pounding rock and gentler acoustic tracks, the ambitious arrangements and top rate musicianship, there is a lot to enjoy here. Tolkien lovers might feel the deepest connection to the album, but for the rest of us, the music is well worth listening to. The lyrics are also very well written.

Some of what I’ve written here might suggest that It Was In The Month of May I could be seen as a bit niche and retro, but one could also argue that it’s an album that has caught the zeitgeist. If we think about the current interest, on the folk scene and beyond, for finding a version of Britishness or Englishness based on the folklore, landscape and local traditions, along with new interest in Willam Blake’s idea of Albion, this might be a band and album with a lot more current relevance than might be immediately obvious.

Graham Brown

Artists’ website: Albion Official UK | Home

‘Eldest (Tom Bombadil)’ – official video:

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