Earthspan/No Ruinous Feud [Import]

Earthspan/No Ruinous Feud [Import]

Track Listings
Disc: 1

1. My Father Was a Lighthouse Keeper

2. Antoine

3. Restless Night

4. Sunday Song

5. Black Jack David

6. Banks of Sweet Italy

7. Actor

8. Moon Hang Low

9. Sailor and the Dancer

10. Seagull

Disc: 2

1. Explorer

2. Down Before Cathay

3. Saturday Maybe

4. Jigs

5. Old Buccaneer

6. At the Lighthouse Dance

7. Second Fiddle

8. Circus Girl

9. Turquoise Blue

10. My Blue Tears

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
UK twofer, for the British folk-rock act, combines their third & fourth albums for Island, originally issued in 1972 & 1973. BGO Records. 2004.

Tracks:

My Father Was a Lighthouse Keeper
Antoine
Restless Night
Sunday Song
Black Jack David
Banks of Sweet Italy
Actor
Moon Hang Low
Sailor and the Dancer
Seagull

Tracks:

Explorer
Down Before Cathay
Saturday Maybe
Jigs
Old Buccaneer
At the Lighthouse Dance
Second Fiddle
Circus Girl
Turquoise Blue
My Blue Tears
Weather the Storm
Little Girl

Album Description

UK twofer, for the British folk-rock act, combines their third & fourth albums for Island, originally issued in 1972 & 1973. BGO Records. 2004.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Collection of Two Original LPs on a Double Disc Set of the Incredible String Band's Third and Fourth Albums Originally Recorded for Island Records.

Customer Reviews:

A Perfect Combo.......2006-06-23

"Twofers" aren't always perfectly paired, but these two albums really do go together, given that the period and personnel lineup are consecutive and similar. However, partially due to the absence of Licorice and Rose on the latter album, they do have a different atmosphere, like dense and airy, or dusky and bright. EARTHSPAN is the darker, moodier side, with a few sunny spots. 'The Actor' is one of my all-time favorite ISB songs, something akin to the gauzy memories of a past time conjured up in 'Darling Belle' on LIQUID ACROBAT AS REGARDS THE AIR, only this time it's the 1920's. As usual, a period musical style isn't literally imitated, but a mood is created through the lyrics and light instrumental touches. This is one of the things the ISB does best: things are not laid out for us with all of the blanks filled in, but rather, images and sounds are sketched and layered in such a way that we must bring our own emotional connections and memories to the music and are therefore more engaged, like a participant instead of just an observer. NO RUINOUS FEUD is even more evocative of times gone by. However, while earlier ISB albums seemed to harken back to medieval times and now remind me of the hippie renaissance fairs that were popular in the 1970's, both of these albums are much more modern. NO RUINOUS FEUD is as close to rock music as the ISB ever got, although other styles are wonderfully incorporated into the mix. A fantastic, bluegrass-flavored Dolly Parton cover of 'My Blue Tears' is a highlight (ISB rarely did covers, other than adaptations of very old folk songs). There are some instrumental tunes that mix up jug band, jazz and Celtic music in such a way that it's practically impossible to say what kind of music it actually is. Another thing that sets these records apart from their predecessors is the deep, rich voice of Malcolm LeMaistre, who also contributes several songs as well. When he joined the band an already diverse sound expanded. To my ears, his voice is more pleasant to listen to than either Robin Williamson's or Mike Heron's, and his pitch is usually much more accurate as well. His 'Down Before Cathay' is one of the loveliest songs to ever grace an ISB album, although some listeners may find it a bit fey (as with much of the ISB catalogue; this music is not for all tastes, and almost none of it could be remotely considered "macho"). If, like me, you are a big Incredible String Band fan (I own most of their original albums on both vinyl and CD), or a frustrated flower child who is put off by the crass commercialism, rudeness and violence of these troubled times, you can't go wrong with these sublime creations. I only give this release four stars as a note of caution: this music will never have broad appeal, but that's just fine with me. For more adventurous listeners, these works will yield many treasures.

Average customer rating:

Earthspan/No Ruinous Feud
Incredible String Band
Manufacturer: Bgo Records/Ka
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000N0JLIY
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Music Review:

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