Dec
19
Erland and the Carnival
December 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
The last time I saw folk music in action it was in a central London pizza parlour and the guy was dressed in pointy-hooded green medieval tabard with bells on one ankle and a foot-operated drum on his back. He actually used the words hey-nonny-no in one song.
The following review appears in edition #58 of London’s premier music ‘zine, London Tour Dates.
Such twee nonsense is not Erland and the Carnival’s thing but being part of the New Wave of British folk (sorry Kerrang!) means they will inevitably be stuck with the F-word. Besides, frontman Erland Copper is from Orkney and that’s all they do up there. . . isn’t it?
The stereotype busting begins in earnest with My Name is Carnival which kicks off with those dreary but endearing guitar sounds I always associated with Cream and soon develops into a driving choral thrash with some nice stop-time. Trouble in Mind is the standout track for me – a wonderful Coral-esque shanty with just the right amount of La-las peppered throughout giving the nod to the band’s folky roots. The whole album reeks of travelling troubadours enjoying what they do. Great production too.