Oysterband

Rarely can a human voice rouse the spirit and quicken the pulse with the consistency of these politically charged stalwarts of the UK folk roots scene. Their ability to fire their material with a punk temperament has distinguished them through time as they continue to forge sensational musicianship to traditional folk tunes, inventive covers and incendiary originals that rail against the injustice of our times. From the opening strains of "Over The Water,” lifted skyward on the strength of Ian Telford’s pulsing fiddle, Lee Partis’s rhythmic percussion and John Jones’ rich, beefy vocals, their feisty five-man assault against the f-word (folk) continues with 11 powerful originals. The rousing "Everything Must Go,” driven by the chiming guitars of Alan Prosser and Al Scott, gives way to a robust, magnificent chorus as "Walking Down The Road With You” merely underlines that, 30 years on, these mischievous bad boys are at the pinnacle of their career. Overflowing with piss’n’vinegar on the rollicking "Control” and "Someone Somewhere” (thanks to the aggressive rhythm muscle of bassist Chopper and drummer Partis), the album closes on the hopeful and uplifting "Dancing As Fast As I Can,” which works itself into a frothy epic, complete with full choral accompaniment. This is a tighter, leaner Oysterband that threaten to take over the world. And not a minute too soon.