Recorded by Steve Albini
Jess Randall - Violin/nyckelharpa/vocals
Gordon Wallace - Guitars/bouzouki/vocals
Mark Stevens - Double bass/charango
Joe Gould - Drum kit/tapan/vocals
Track listing:
01. Countess Bathory's Finishing School for Girls (3:10)
02. The Ruination of Junkyard Joe (4:11)
03. Clockwork Bride (4:01)
04. All These Pitchforks Make Me Nervous (4:07)
05. The Mountain Hag's Advice (3.:38)
06. Beneath Ash and Ocean (2:55)
07. Over Hill and Under Hill (6:57)
08. What the Thunder Said (14:15)
I was first introduced to The Crooked Fiddle Band after seeing them play the Annandale Hotel many years ago. I had never heard a band like them and frankly have never heard a band like them since. A band playing acoustic instruments but in an extreme way with a violin player who can really shred.
2011 sees the release of "Overgrown Tales" the bands first Longplayer. It follows on the heels of 2 eps (2006's "The Crooked Fiddle Band" and 2008's "Rise"). Recorded in late 2010 by Steve Albini at his Electrical Audio studios and according to the band in middle of a Blizzard.
The album begins in much the same way the band previous ep "Rise" did with the records heaviest track. "Countess Bathory's Finishing School for Girls" was the first single and it sums up why TCFB are unique. 4 players who are all over their respective instruments and know exactly what needs to be done. Taught and chugging it threatens at times to come of the rails and that's where the excitement lies. Jess Randle's violin is blinding on this track.
Following on from this is the jaunty "The Ruination of Junkyard Joe" which is guaranteed to get your feet moving wherever you are. A particular favourite at recent live shows it includes a nice vocal passage from drummer Joe Gould.
"Clockwork Bride" is a sinister little number. Moving from stripped back passages to almost moshy middle 8 grooves. One of the standouts.
"All These Pitchforks Make Me Nervous" begins with an almost hoedown kind of groove but then quickly moves into something very different. Mark Stevens’ bass grooves through this song and even swings near the end. This song makes me think of some kind of Redneck Apocalypse. Scary but awesome at the same time.
"The Mountain Hag's Advice" is the next up and I’ve got to say that of all of the songs on this album this is the one that hasn’t grabbed me. The time signatures are fun and the playing is great. The contrast between vocals is interesting but for me it doesn’t quite come together.
We get a little room to breathe on "Beneath Ash and Ocean". A short number that shows the softer side of the band. It reminds me of early 20th Century Musical scores with pretty melodies that have a hint of rawness to them.
"Over Hill and Under Hill" is a song that the band has been playing for a while. When I first heard it years ago the band said it was their Hobbit theme and in a perfect world it would. How great would it be when the first Hobbit movie comes out for this to be playing at the start of the film? Although it might sound cheesy it sounds cinematic and in a lot of ways I think that was the intention.
The album closes with the 14 min long "What the Thunder Said". Guitarist Gordon Wallace’s playing really shines on this track with some great picking and intertwining lines. This is definitely the highlight and a great way to end this album. Building on everything they have done before and combining it into one track. You get the feeling the band put a lot of work into this one as this is the most produced of all of the songs.
If you are looking for a band that are taking cues from the past and doing something new with it then this is your band and this is your album. We can only hope more people get to experience this band.
For details of where you can buy the album go to the bands website: www.crookedfiddleband.com.
The Crooked Fiddle Band is currently on tour in Europe.
9/10
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