I just heard her cover of Chance, the Big Country song. She’s doing an album of the Scottish Songbook, with all the usual suspects.
If one were interested in her own music, including the early Malinkie stuff, where would one begin?
ATM: Karine Polwart
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I have both Faultlines and Scribbled In Chalk, both very good. I haven’t kept up with her, though – there have been five albums since.
Useless showbiz link: Inge Thomson (who also played with my pals The Broken Family Band) is Mrs F’s bridesmaid’s cousin.
Much like @fentonsteve, I only have Faultlines and Scribbled in Chalk too. Both are worth investigating.
Her edition of Folk on Foot was very good, but listening to her recordings after I came to same conclusion I have after several of these podcasts. The more bare and unadorned the voice is the better, and studio recordings can smother it.
https://www.karinepolwart.com/home/blog/podcast-folk-on-foot-with-mathew-bannister
She was on either Only Artists or One To One the other week. Check BBC Radio 4 iplayer/Sounds.
Check out her collaboration with Lau which is quite fabulous.
I have some early stuff, Fairest Flooer and the one before, after which I thought she went a bit tabor(old English word meaning dourly serious) but am looking forward to her trio at Cambridge and her forthcoming album, the Great Scottish Songbook. There’s a grand version of Whole of the Moon on her website.
Just watched her video for Chance and her version of Whole of The Moon.
Really nice interpretations of 1980s classics.
I would love her to do Cutting Crew’s ‘I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight’ one of my favourite 1986 tunes. Not part of the Scottish Songbook though I guess!
*marches in with complete back catalogue under his arm*
Traces, from 2012, is my favourite. It was an album whose songs I heard trialled and tested live for a couple of years before it was released. That gives you the privilege of hearing the live introductions, informing you of the songs’ provenance, and there are some powerful back stories. I would say she had that much material that she could afford to be selective; I value every one of those songs.
A few weeks ago I bought the Book & CD version of “Windblown” by Karine Polwart and Pippa Murphy from Hudson Records in Sheffield.
https://hudsonrecords.co.uk/product/karine-polwart—windblown
The book, the music and the tale they tell are absolutely lovely.
Enthused, I went back to the Hudson online shop and this morning our postman delivered signed copies of Emily Portman’s “Dominion of Spells” and M G Boulter’s “Tidelines” . They are equally wonderful and a pleasure to own.
You don’t need me to describe them (you can read about them on Hudson’s website) nor to critique the music (you can listen to it on Spotify and suchlike). My role is just to point you in their direction if you are so inclined.
(I have no connection with Hudson Records other than that of a delighted customer.)
I have a couple of M G Boulter elpees. I did the sound for him a few times as a support act, then as guitarist for Blue Rose Code, then as headliner. All very good.
Is M G Boulter Matt Boulter? I ask because the latter is playing a gig in a chapel very near me this weekend.
M G Boulter’s first name is Matt, yes.
@henpetsgi There’s a spirited version of this here (starts at 6.35, music at 8.20):
The anti-Trump lyrics are here:
https://happymediumproductions.weebly.com/i-burn-but-i-am-not-consumed—karine-powlart.html
Cheers