Tag: Claudia’s

From Bristol they came and set about conquering the folk world. Sid Goldsmith, Alex Garden and Danny Pedler have already built their reputations with other line-ups but their second album, Outside Time, cements those reputations with their unique blend of traditional and original music.

They start with ‘Claudia’s’ written by Pedler and featuring his accordion – a fine, rollicking tune that kicks off the record in exciting style. They follow that with a perfect example of their method. ‘Neither Maid Nor Man’ begins with the story of the female cabin boy and morphs into the tale of the female drummer before imagination takes over and brings us up to the present day with a discussion of gender fluidity in the context of something that has been happening for centuries.

‘Outside Time’ is described as “an exploration of polyrhythm and interlocking cross rhythms” and there isn’t much I can add to that. ‘Sunk’ written by Pedler and Goldsmith with its eerie introduction tells of the effect on the soul of returning home after a period away – sailors call it the channels – and how it leads to a feeling of contentment. Lovely strings from Garden here. ‘Solstice’ is a pair of tunes; one by Pedler and one by Goldsmith, featuring just about every instrument in the band’s repertoire – cittern, fiddle, viola and accordion and there may be some concertina and harmonium in there, too.

‘Jolly Bold Robber’ has another strange introduction which initially doesn’t sound as though it belongs to this cautionary tale. This soundscape, weaving around Garden’s fiddle, returns as the story reaches its climax. ‘Dan-Y-Bont’ features a guest appearance of Harriet Riley on marimba underpinning Goldsmith’s concertina and that is followed by two more instrumentals; the first being a pair of tunes by Garden and the second a Morris jig written by Andy Cutting, which Pedler praises for its “English lumpiness”.

That old favourite, ‘Spencer The Rover’, is given a twist with a subtle change in the lyrics of the first verse – try to spot it before you read the sleeve notes. Finally, ‘Wanting For Nothing’ features Goldsmith’s cittern and Garden’s fiddle in a musical rumination about friends and family. A beautiful tune to close with.

Outside Time is a beautiful, restful album – except for the lively bits that provide balance, of course – and provides absorbing and entertaining listening.

Dai Jeffries

Artists’ website: https://tarrenmusic.com/home

‘Claudia’s’ – official video: