Eliza Carthy & The Kings of Calicutt

Eliza Carthy & The Kings of Calicutt

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Eliza Carthy might have learned from the best--her parents are Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson--but she's rapidly developed into a staggering talent on her own. The Kings of Calicutt is just one of her projects, this exploring traditional music of all kinds--primarily English, but also American, and even Bahamian. For someone who's only been playing the fiddle for a short time, she's already acquired her own style, very much in the English tradition, and is coming on at a staggering pace. Her singing, too, continues to increase by leaps and bounds. This record contains one of the loveliest old songs recently found, "The Fisher Boy." This is a superbly adventurous record, made by someone who looks at traditional music with fresh eyes, and sees no borders. --Chris Nickson

Tracks:

Cape Cod Girls - Baby Gramps
Mingulay Boat Song - Richard Thompson
My Son John - John C. Reilly
Fire Down Below - Nick Cave
Turkish Revelry - Loudon Wainwright III
Bully In The Alley - The Old Prunes
The Cruel Ship's Captain - Bryan Ferry
Dead Horse - Robin Holcomb
Spansih Ladies - Bill Frisell
High Barbary - Joseph Arthur
Haul Away Joe - Mark Anthony Thompson
Dan Dan - David Thomas
Blood Red Roses - Sting
Sally Brown - Teddy Thompson
Lowlands Away - Rufus Wainwright & Kate McGarrigle
Baltimore Whores - Gavin Friday
Rolling Sea - Eliza McCarthy
Haul On The Bowline - Bob Neuwirth
Dying Sailor to His Shipmates - Bono
Bonnie Portmore - Lucinda Williams
The Mermaid - Martin Carthy & the UK Group
Shenandoah - Richard Greene & Jack Shit
The Cry Of Man - Mary Margaret O'Hara

Tracks:

Boney - Jack Shit
Good Ship Venus - Loudon Wainwright III
Long Time Ago -White Magic
Pinery Boy - Nick Cave
Lowlands Low - Bryan Ferry w/Antony
One Spring Morning - Akron/Family
Hog Eye Man - Martin Carthy & Family
The Fiddler/A Drop Of Nelson's Blood - Ricky Jay & Richard Greene
Caroline and Her Young Sailor Bold - Andrea Corr
Fathom The Bowl - John C. Reilly
Drunken Sailor - Dave Thomas
Farewell Nancy - Ed Harcourt
Hanging Johnny - Stan Ridgway
Old Man of The Sea - Baby Gramps
Greenland Whale Fisheries - Van Dyke Parks
Shallow Brown - Sting
The Grey Funnel Line - Jolie Holland
A Drop of Nelson's Blood - Jarvis Cocker
Leave Her Johnny - Lou Reed
Little Boy Billy - Ralph Steadman

Amazon.com

Johnny Depp and director Gore Verbinski hatched the idea for Rogue's Gallery while filming "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"--that idea being to cast genteel rock superstars like Bono, Lou Reed, Bryan Ferry, Andre Corr, and Sting to reinterpret gritty seafaring standards for an exhaustive 43-track double-disc set produced by Hal Wilner. Throw in a bunch of credible folk stars (Loudon Wainwright III, Richard Thompson), their offspring (Rufus, Teddy) and a string of other curious characters (Jarvis Cocker, Antony) and what results is one of the strangest compilations in recent memory, if not exactly the most historically authentic or, well, digestible. Nick Cave embraces the role just a little too hard on "Fire Down Below," while Ferry can't help but sound like he's singing for the cast of "The Love Boat," but cut through the chaff and there is some real bootie here: Bono's "Dying Sailor to His Shipmates," Jolie Holland's "The Grey Funnel Line" and "Boney" by a mysterious tramp called Jack Sh**, which must be some kind of anagram for Johnny Depp. --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

While working on the two "Pirates Of The Carribean" films, Johnny Depp and director Gore Verbinski became fascinated with the lore and fable of the pirates and sailors who ran the high seas. Enter legendary producer Hal Wilner, who brings his knack for matching maverick musicians with extraordinary material. Artists on this double disc set include Bono, Sting, Nick Cave, Bryan Ferry, Lou Reed, Richard Thompson, Lucinda Williams, Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, and many more. "Rogue's Gallery" offers a look at the hardships, the horrors, the lusts and lurid depths, and the crystal beauty that led men to the sea in ships for hundreds of years.

Customer Reviews:

Fun--but not great.......2007-07-03

What a concept--a pirate song co-produced by Verbinski and Depp inspired by the "Pirates of the Carribean" series. It should be great and in places, it is. The big question I came away with is--who is Jack Sh**? That one definitely has me guessing.

I won't belabor the song content or the production value. I think the most notable reviews have got that down pat, although I'm not marking down as far as they have because I'm giving points for originality being a fan of Spike Jones and some other truly demented people.

One thing to note: this is not a CD you'd buy if you were looking for something to amuse your kids. Some of the content is very bawdy and Mom and Dad would have some serious 'splaining to do to the little pirates. There's both some language and some situations that are more twisted than a Hangman's knot.

aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhh!.......2007-06-09

Some of the songs are quite good(mellow)others a little odd. Its what I expected, but not what you would expect.

Disappointment would be an understatement.......2007-06-04

It is not unusual to find sea shanties performed by not the greatest musicians or singers in the world. It is not unusual to find shanties sung by people who have difficulty keeping perfect pitch, or tempo. But at least they understand what the music is about, and sing it with heart and enthusiasm and a love for the genre.

Hal Wilner should stick to whatever genre it is that made him know enough to be approached by labels, because he clearly has no understanding, and less enthusiasm for *this* genre.

If you love lively music from the maritime era, you can only be bitterly disappointed by this collection. Out of 43 tracks, I found 15 that were salvageable. Sort of.

I've already tossed this onto the pile to go to the resale shop. It wasn't worthy the cost of shipping.

Zzz..........2007-04-04

I have to admit that I have no idea what kinds of music the pirates sang aboard their ships. I know it probably wasn't "yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me," but I expected something different than this. I think my expectations have been colored by groups like The Pogues, Flogging Molly, The Tossers, and the Real McKenzies. I have an annual Pirate Party and I was hoping to find some good music here to get people in the mood for a treasure hunt or pirate liar's dice, but instead, the music on this CD is something I'd put on if the party went on too long and I wanted to encourage people to leave. Some of it is actually awful and the rest is too slow and plodding to inject much energy into any situation.

I appreciate what was attempted here (contemporary artists paying homage to sea chanteys in the spirit of our romanticized version of the pirate era) but it just doesn't really work. The effect is similar to what would be achieved if the London Philharmonic Orchestra attempted to play rap "music" with Luciano Pavarotti rhymin' while flashing gang signs.

another set of hopes are smashed.......2007-03-29

the selection of titles attracted me. The quality of the arrangements, the voices, and the music---are all quite bad.

It is VERY sad that these same titles, could not have been produced for quality. They sound like a nightmare.

Average customer rating:

4 and a half as it's nearly perfect

Rough Music
Eliza Carthy
Manufacturer: Topic Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
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Anglicana
At the Wood's Heart
Fishes & Fine Yellow Sand
Definitive Collection
Angels & Cigarettes

ASIN: B0007UT5SQ
Release Date: 2005-04-25

Tracks:

Turpin Hero
King James Version
Cobbler's Hornpipe
Gallant Hussar
Upside Down
Mohair
The Unfortunate Lass
Scan Tester's Country Stepdance
Maid On The Shore
Mr. McCusker & Mr. McGoldrick's English Choice
Tom Brown

Album Details

Showcasing the Supreme Voice and Fiddle of Probably the Biggest Star that Has Emerged Out of the Folk Scene in the Last Decade.

Customer Reviews:

4 and a half as it's nearly perfect.......2005-07-12

This girl has the juice in spades. Genetically at an advantage to every other musician alive, Eliza Carthy rests not on her laurels but pushes what Brit Trad can be to altogether new horizons. Give her parents credit for encouraging her to be her own woman, because what she accomplishes honours and advances a tradition that had been in remission since the best days of Dave Swarbrick.
This is just another fine Cd in a long line of releases that began with her partnership with Nancy Kerr and has flourished inc combination with her parents and through a set of solo releases. With the Rat group of bandmates, she has what Young found in Crazy Horse, or Hiatt recently with the North Mississippi All Stars: ie, a band that knew where her groove was and could take it places. They chemistry hear is even better than the stint with the Kings of Callicut, and it's clear on every track that they are a collection of equals endorsing each other's strengths.
Carthy is SO good, you almost don't notice it. Damn! How many artists can you say that about? While the rest of the world samples and writes by committee, EC looks to a tradition and finds room to soar to new heights. Her voice is more resonant of her father, but she certainly has her Mom's swagger and that gait is meant to move. Move you she does. I'd compare her to Sandy Denny but that's unfair to both women. Sandy was a different singer whose profound influence is still felt. EC isn't in the same place, and isn't concerned about that either. She has a path to blaze on her own, and hopefully we'll see that cultivate over a very long life. Anyway, you get the idea: Eliza Carthy is already one of the great ones. This CD settles that point and looks forward to the future.

Average customer rating:

An excellent look at both sides
DON'T LEND OUT THIS CD!!!!
an amazing talent
it's good. you should probably buy it.
Carthy, British queen of folk

Red Rice
Eliza Carthy
Manufacturer: Topic Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Angels & Cigarettes
Anglicana
Rough Music

ASIN: B000006N8Y
Release Date: 1998-05-19

Tracks:

Accordion Song (Accidental Saturday Night Kitchen Mix)
10,000 Miles
Billy Boy/The Widdow's Wedding
Time In The Son
Stumbling On
Stingo/The Stacking Reel
Greenwood Laddie/Mrs. Capron's Reel/Tune
Walk Away
Adieu, Adieu
Russia (Call Waiting)
Red Rice

Tracks:

Blow The Winds/The Game Of Draughts
The Snow It Melts The Soonest
Picking Up Sticks/The Old Mole/Felton lonnin/Kingston Girls
Miller And The Lass
Herring Song
Mons Meg
Tuesday Morning
Haddock And Chips
The Americans Have Stolen My True Love Away
Zycanthos Jig/Tommy's Foot/Quebecois
The Sweetness Of Mary/Holywell Hornpipe/Swedish
Benjamin Bowmaneer
Commodore Moore/The Black Dance/A Andy O

Amazon.com

Eliza Carthy is one of the rising stars of the "new roots" scene in Britain. An excellent fiddler and a pretty good singer, she seems to have inherited her well-known musical parents' (Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy's) dual focus, striving to proclaim her country's rich folk heritage while also looking towards popular music for revitalization. Red is the more aggressive of the two CDs in this set. Her band uses reggae, jazz, '90s rave, and '60s folk-rock to spice up old folk songs and a few originals--some strongly imitative of early Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention. The winners of this set are actually the ones that stray as far from tradition as they can--mom's "Stumbling On" has a nice barrelhouse groove, and Eliza's own "Russia (Call Waiting)" pushes the electronic limits--and it's a grand time. Rice is the more solid folk set, and possibly the better of the two CDs. Backed by Saul Rose on accordions, the mysterious "Fontenots" on guitar and vocals, Ed Boyd on guitar, and Eleanor Waterson and Lucy Adams on vocals, this is straight ahead power folk, with lots of attitude and energy. Anyone who doubts this young artist's right to be in the British folk literati need only listen to the medley "Zycanthos Jig" to feel her grace, skill, and understanding of the music. Red Rice is an adventurous project for a young artist; and two full hours of music may have been a stretch, but the magical high moments are many and well worth the exploration. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

An excellent look at both sides.......2004-04-22

Don't be fooled by the punkette look - behind the bright red (later blue/white) hair and piercings, Eliza Carthy has a deep love for the English musical tradition, a refreshing skill a blending it with the modern, and a remarkable touch on the violin. Add a rich singing voice with a subtly alluring accent and you've got a rare treat. With her previous albums and her latest (Anglicana) Eliza shows a beautiful talent to add to the English folk tradition; with the in-between Angels & Cigarettes she stepped into the realm of modern pop with some folky touches. 2000's Red Rice made an interesting compromise.

Red is the half that brings some of this material into the present day, whether she's rendering traditional tunes ("Greenwood Laddie," "The Stacking Reel") with an electric guitar/bass/drum treatment, covering Norma Waterson and Ben Harper, spicing up some folky originals in a rock context, or backing her fiddle with electronic buzzes and techno beats (as on the title track and the addicting "Russia"). For those interested not just in folk music but also its various adaptations, this set is indispensable.

And yet it's impossible to say which disc is stronger, since the Rice set is every bit as enjoyable & accomplished in its own way. This collection is taken along the traditional road, the kind of thing Steeleye Span did in the 70s brought to new life. The slow earthy "Blow the Winds" shows off her voice the most with just a minimal guitar backing. "Miller and the Lass," "Tuesday Morning" and the "Zycanthos Jig" medley are mid-tempo pub dances, bouncy and infectious even though they're mid-tempo. If there's one thing I'd change it's probably the fact that nothing really speeds up until the last track, but that's only a minor quibble. From reel to jig to ballad, every song is a gem.

Angels & Cigs also makes a good pick for the merely-curious pop fan, but I say Red Rice is Eliza's finest and widest-ranging album to date; if you want a real taste of the traditional in a couple different forms, start right here.

DON'T LEND OUT THIS CD!!!!.......2002-09-25

I was introduced to Eliza through a magazine review of "Angels and Cigarettes", and have been gobbling up since the first chords of that album. This one, an earlier CD, would have been more appropriate to start with: If you like more modern-poppy disc "Red", then buy her newer stuff. If you like folky-traditional "Rice", then step backwards. Neither is the wrong way to go. Just don't try to get this CD back after lending it- that won't happen. The tunes are infectious and fun on both discs, and people tend to whine if they have to give them back. (Only really problematic due to them being imported)

an amazing talent.......2001-08-15

I bought this album on a whim because the packaging seemed interesting -- and now it is one of my favorite albums. Eliza Carthy is an amazingly talented young artist -- she's an amazing fiddler and accordian player, a great vocalist and a truly gifted interpreter of traditional folk music. The album actually contains true seperate discs. Red which is more "modern" and incorporates electronic sounds, and Rice which sticks to more traditional compositions. While both contain mostly traditional material Carthy also writes a few songs -- which blend effortlessly with the traditional stuff. Carthy's voice is perfect on every track. And the instrumental tracks are equally beautiful -- I love the way she blends traditional fiddling and programmed in electronic sounds on songs like Russia (Call Waiting). It sounds very organic -- not at all new agey and she also proves that she is a talented musician on solo fiddle tracks like Haddock and Chips (which she composed). I can't rave any more about this album -- I would recommend it to anyone who likes traditional and folk music especially Celtic folk and English roots music.

it's good. you should probably buy it........2001-02-21

I sometimes worry that liking Eliza Carthy shows up my lack of ideological purity, but then I tell myself to get over it and not be such a snob. Even when she's more on her folk side than her pop side, she's pretty poppy, but if you're not the kind of person who objects to a lack of ideological purity, she's well worth a listen.

This double CD contains a good mix of her influences, with Red containing more of the pop/electric stuff and Rice the more straight traditional stuff. Since they come together it's not worth saying which is better, and I find it changes with my mood in any case. The emotional tone ranges from upbeat to somewhat mournful, with a good bit of wistfulness in the middle. It's good study music.

Carthy, British queen of folk.......2000-12-07

Carthy's Red Rice is a traditional album, mixed with pop, techno and electronica. Proves herself as a british folk queen and applause is greatly needed. Draws the adolescents in with her punky hair colors and glamorous piercings, and satisfies the adult's sound of traditional celtic music. Mix with Ashley MacIsaac-like fiddles and Joan Baez-like vocals and we have a divine treat for all music lovers! Two thumbs up. Way up.

Average customer rating:

Traditional English folk songs in a contemporary setting
A new genre
A Return to Her Folk Roots
truly extraordinary
Rolling Stone review

Anglicana
Eliza Carthy
Manufacturer: Topic Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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On Reflection
Angels & Cigarettes
Red Rice
Rice

ASIN: B00006JNAJ
Release Date: 2002-10-28

Tracks:

Worcester City
Just As The Tide Was Flowing
Limbo
Little Gypsy Girl
No Man's Jig + Hanoverian Dance + Three Jolly Sheepskins
Pretty Ploughboy
Bold Privateer
Dr Mcmbe
In London So Fair
Willow Tree

Album Description

Anglicana is Eliza's first solo recording for several years and re-focuses on her love of traditional and acoustic music. Eliza is a major recording artist, recording and working with the likes of Joan Baez and picking up a Mercury Prize Nomination for her album Red Rice. One of folk's biggest stars! 10 tracks. Topic Records. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Traditional English folk songs in a contemporary setting.......2005-05-16

Eliza Carthy, daughter of folk singers Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy, emerged in the late nineties as Britain's leading female folk singer. Eliza has always sought to bring a contemporary edge to her music, perhaps hoping in the process to get more people to take an interest in Britain's folk-song heritage. It is sometimes said that a great song will survive any interpretation, but adapting traditional songs written in an entirely different era when there was little or no backing music to a contemporary setting is no easy task. Nevertheless, Eliza has come up with an interesting and entertaining album that preserves the essence of each song. Listening to this album, nobody can be in any doubt that this is, at its heart, traditional folk music, even if it is updated slightly to appeal to listeners in the new millennium.

Eliza found many of the songs here on a twenty-volume series titled Voice of the people (released on Topic records, like this album). Folk music fans will find much of interest in that series, if they can afford it. To a wider audience, the best-known song here may be Just as the tide was flowing -10,000 Maniacs are among others to have recorded the song - but Eliza sings it her way and it's superb as all the songs here are. Among my other favorites here are Worcester City, Little gypsy girl, Bold privateer and Willow tree.

If you have any interest in traditional folk music, you should give this album a listen.

A new genre.......2005-03-07

Eliza Carthy boldly lays claim to a new genre with the inspired title of this beautiful album. It fits her music perfectly and needs no further explanation. Whereas she has in the past ironically sounded more dated when occasionally attempting more modern and experimental musical forms, her exploration of traditional material invariably sounds fresh and forward looking, and here she is again helped by a varied and fine collection of mostly acoustic musicians.
Her affecting version of the old favourite Just As The Tide Was Flowing, revived by Shirley Collins with the Albion Band and by the American group 10,000 Maniacs amongst others, takes on an altogether more sombre and elegant timbre in its new reinvention, whilst many of the songs have been drawn from collections and archives, some brought to her by her father Martin Carthy, or Dr MCMBE, as an instrumental piece dedicated to him and on which he plays guitar is titled. Worcester City and Pretty Plowboy are two other highlights which seem to define what Eliza Carthy is all about. Although one of the themes of the album is Englishness there are, as she says, no border controls and one of the songs, In London So Fair, comes from the Irish singer Mary Ann Carolan, while some of the album was recorded in Edinburgh.
In London So Fair was recorded on a Steinway, Eliza having switched from fiddle for the occasion, in a living room overlooking the sea, and you can almost hear the ocean in the atmosphere, so vivid is the recording (the sea being another of the main album themes). The lighthearted and jazz-tinted Willow Tree closes the album with a hint of new directions to come. A well balanced and mature album, and reassuring for the future of British folk music

A Return to Her Folk Roots.......2004-02-13

After her foray into popdom with "Angels and Cigarettes", Eliza Carthy has gone back to the English folk idiom with "Anglicana". This album is successful on almost every level, most importantly because Carthy has further honed her skills and folk sensibilities. Her fiddle playing is absolutely superb throughout and never threatens to dominate excessively. She is surrounded by some top-notch musicians (her Mum and Dad as well as Jon Speirs, Jon Boden, and Tim Van Eyken) and the result is a session of high-quality songs. One of the most impressive factors here, though is Carthy's voice. Whilst her voice does not possess the crystaline beauty of the great Maddy Prior or Kate Rusby, it has an honesty and expressiveness that sets it apart. Carthy's edgy singing calls to mind the older voices of Harry Cox and the early Cooper Family. It is quite a beautiful voice. Her rendition of "Just as the Tide Was Flowing" is sung brilliantly. The beauty of the singing is not only in the voice but also in the delivery and Carthy is a master of folksinging. Have a listen...you won't be dissappointd.

truly extraordinary.......2004-02-05

Eliza could probably coast on the reputation of her mother and father, and some might argue that in some past recordings she has. I like to think she was just practicing for this outstanding album. Her voice is fantastic: clear, nimble, emotional, soaring, unique. Her arrangements are flawless, the backup musicians are perfect, even her backup singers (including her mother and father) are wonderful. But it's the songs themselves that set this effort apart from everything she's done. I've probably bought five copies of this CD to slip into friend's hands with a message of "try this, you won't be the same again."
If you're thinking of "trying out" Elliza Carthy, this is not only a perfect entry point, but you might want to buy a few; one for home, one for the car, and some for all those folks who haven't discovered this astounding singer.

Rolling Stone review.......2003-08-04

Rolling Stone: One of 2002's best. Folk music survives because certain people use their imaginations to spin new gold from old straw. Carthy will keep the traditions alive for another century.

Average customer rating:

Critical cachet from its obscurity?
Spellbinding
Modern Day Folk
Wonderful Talent
Fiddling magnificence!

Angels & Cigarettes
Eliza Carthy
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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Red
Red Rice
Rice
Anglicana
Rough Music

ASIN: B00004YL12
Release Date: 2001-01-30

Tracks:

Whispers Of Summer
Train Song
Beautiful Girl
Whole
Poor Little Me
The Company Of Men
Perfect
Wildwood
Breathe
Fuse

Amazon.com

British singer, songwriter, and fiddler Eliza Carthy graduates to a lush, expansive pop palette with her move to a major U.S. label, but this second-generation troubadour's persona hasn't been compromised. Daughter and erstwhile bandmate of English folk legends Norma Waterson and Sir Martin Carthy, the younger Carthy embraces a balance of tradition and experimentation; her earlier solo projects have confirmed her modernism as vividly as her body piercings and brash hair colors. On Angels & Cigarettes, her band executes a quantum shift in wattage, cushioning her ripe, lyrical fiddle lines and a filigree of acoustic stringed instruments with thick synthesizer textures, layered percussion, and bursts of orchestral drama (courtesy of arranger Van Dyke Parks) that reconcile '90s trip-hop with '60s art-pop. Her dusky alto meanwhile follows a sturdy thread through recent stylists such as Beth Orton, Sandy Denny, Linda Thompson, and the singer's own mum. Carthy's indelible Yorkshire accent and the striking candor of her lyrics meanwhile sound both up-to-the-minute and as plainspoken as Child ballads. She strikes different sexual pitches, from gentle eroticism ("Whole") to matter-of-fact bawdiness ("The Company of Men"), and injects a tart element of class-consciousness to her portraits of the perfect and privileged ("Beautiful Girl"). For adventurous pop fans and open-minded folkies, Angels & Cigarettes is both lovely and addictive. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Critical cachet from its obscurity?.......2005-06-03

To this first time Carthy listeners ears, the music here is nice but not especially remarkable. While it seems to be tagged by most as contemporary folk, what I come away with here is a Celtic veneer on Jewel-esque pop. Violins play an occasional role but only very rarely are they center stage ("Whispers of Summer" is one of the exceptions."Poor Little Me" features a violin placed in an "alt" context...it's run through some sort of phaser/filter.)

There's a hint of a (Gaelic?) accent to Carthy's voice but no foreign language numbers: it's clearly geared to the coffeehouse crowd rather than diehard folk purists.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Carthy seems to be at her best here when she's unashamedly contemporary. She abandons any sops to "authenticity" on "Beautiful Girl" and it's one of the better numbers. It's chock full of skittering video game noises riding a galloping drum machine track. "Whole"'s elegant lust sounds like Sinead O'Connor singing over a Natalie Merchant track. ("I could be all the way around you/Swallow you in myself/Wrap my body around you/You are so small, so delicate, and mine/If only I could warm you all the time...") "The Company of Men" is probably one of the "folkiest" sounding things here if you ignore the sweeping string arrangements. (Parental alert: This is one you'll DEFINITELY want to skip if little ears are present unless you want to explain specific sexual practices to them..) "Wild Wood" is a Paul Weller song redone as trip-hop and works pretty well. It would be believable as a Massive Attack song.

LOWS:
"Breathe" is pretty interesting musically, but the words don't draw me in at all. "Fuse" is also laden with strings like "Company of Men" but the lyric's not as memorable. The arrangement also seems intrusive as though the strings are there to CREATE drama..rather than merely assist drama already in the lyric.

BOTTOM LINE:
It's beautifully produced and tuneful. Once it's over, I can't really recall much of it. There just isn't enough musical "meat" underneath all the dressing. Average.

Spellbinding.......2003-01-15

I heard "Train Song" on WXPN, Philadelphia's alternative music station, while driving to an appointment. At the time, I didn't know the artist or title of the song. However, I was utterly entranced; as if in another world - it's fortunate I didn't have an accident. I patiently endured three more(and infinitely less captivating) songs, including Squeeze's hideous "Black Coffee in Bed", waiting for the back-announce of the magical song I'd heard at the beginning of the set. I couldn't believe it - the music host didn't back-announce the set she'd just played before moving on to the next one. But I knew that the station's website had a wonderful feature in which listeners can search the daily playlists to identify a song they'd heard. I mentally noted the time I'd heard the song - about 12:55 pm, October 30, 2002, and looked it up as soon as I got home. Again - thwarted! The link to the playlist feature was down. And stayed down - for weeks. But I checked over and over again, until it finally was up and running. That's how captivated I was by Eliza Carthy's "Train Song". I knew I'd identified the right song on the playlist when I checked an audio sample on the CDNOW site to verify - although it was pretty much a simple process of deduction because I knew that the singer wasn't Tracy Chapman, certainly not David Gray, and God forbid, not Squeeze. This song, and the entire CD by Eliza Carthy, is literally spellbinding.

Modern Day Folk.......2001-07-29

Eliza Carthy may be the daughter of British folk icon Martin Carthy and singer Norma Waterson, but with Angels & Cigarettes she is setting her own ground with experimental grooves, classical strings, her own traditional fiddle playing and light worldbeats, creating a rich texture of folky dance pop. Layered in with thick synthesized textures, layered percussion, and hints of trip-hop, reggea, and subtle jazz, she stirs an effective potion of catchy hooks, leaving you sated but sadly unquenched. Most songs average out to be about 3 1/2 mins. in length, leaving you with a taste for more. But the main reason for my 4-star rating is because of the overlayering of string arrangments on "The Company Of Men." It just seems too awkward and overdone. But aside from that the rest of the songs are superb . . . ranging from everything to the joyful "Whispers Of Summer" to the more laments of (my personal favorite) "Train Song." I think the most rememberable song, though, would have to be the haunting remake of Paul Weller's "Wildwood" and "Poor Little Me" which rings with Middle-Eastern infections, echoing her Irish roots. Angels & Cigarettes is a near miss to perfection but is worthy of attention anyways. She's a terrific singer with eclectic tastes. BUT IT NOW! I hope my review helped. Did it?

Wonderful Talent.......2001-07-25

Carthy is a great up and comming talent. Her music is interesting and her lyrics poetic. You can hear the influence of british folk and Irish ballads in the tone of her composition.

While she still needs to mature, this album is well worth buying and this artist will no doubt produce more wonderful things in the future.

Fiddling magnificence!.......2001-07-07

With a daring bravado unafraid of mistakes (there are very few) and exploration of inventive instrumentation (there is much), this is one of the best albums I own. She evolves with each album she releases, and the fiddle and accordion keep her unique sound cleverly grounded. There are many opportunities for mistakes in her work: the combo of electronics and accordion might not work, the traditional songs might be stale, and so forth. None of these criticisms are the case. She does not miss a lick; this album is easily exactly as intended by her young genius, for while such perfection might happen on a small scale, it cannot happen big like "Red Rice" and "Angels." This is not to say that this album is for everyone, for cutting edge work always leaves someone behind who cannot move forward.

Tracks:

Cold, Wet & Rainy Night/The Grand Hornpipe
Cumberland Waltz/Petit Homme/Miss Bowls'
What A Beau Your Granny Is/Stone Steps
Ten Thousand Miles/Bacca Pipes
Clark Saunders
Stamps For The Dog
Peggy
Blind Fiddler
Lady Barnsley's Fancy/Trip To Cartmel/Hardy's Crow
By Then
Sheath And Knife
Jacky Tar

Average customer rating:

On Reflection
Eliza Carthy , and Nancy Kerr
Manufacturer: Gadfly
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Anglicana
Eliza Carthy & The Kings of Calicutt
Heat Light & Sound
Rough Music
Angels & Cigarettes

ASIN: B00006JJ1L
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

Gypsy Hornpipe / The Hawk / Indian Queen
Whittingham Fair / For Whittingham Fair
3/2 Hornpipes
Bushes & Briars
Waterloo Fair / Speed the Plow
The Keek in the Creel
Dance to Your Daddy / The Flaming Drones
Prague / Eliza's Favourite
Fen
Port 'n' Brandy
I Know My Love
Paddy's Rambles
Growing (The Trees They Do Grow High)
Reel Du Pendu
Bonnie Light Horseman

Average customer rating:

Definitive Collection
Eliza Carthy
Manufacturer: Highpoint UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
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Rough Music
Anglicana
Angels & Cigarettes

ASIN: B0000D8IMY
Release Date: 2003-10-13

Tracks:

The Light Dragoon
Greenwood Laddie/Mrs Capron's Reel/Tune
Mother Go Make My Bed/Flower Of Swiss Cottage
Cold Wet & Rainy Night/The Grand Hornpipe
Fisher Boy
Billy Boy/The Widdow's Wedding
French Stroller
Stumbling On
Blow The Winds/The Game Of Draughts
Mons Meg
Diego's Bold Shore
Go From My Window
Child Among The Weeds

Album Details

An Excellent Overview Of, and Introduction To, this Prolific Young Artist's Already Substantial Music Catalolge. Includes Songs from Solo Albums, Group Appearances and Collaborations.

Average customer rating:

Rice
Eliza Carthy
Manufacturer: Topic Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
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Red
Angels & Cigarettes
Anglicana
Rough Music
On Reflection

ASIN: B00004SSOW
Release Date: 2001-06-12

Tracks:

Blow The Winds/The Game Of Draughts
The Snow It Melts The Soonest
Picking Up Sticks/The Old Mole/Felton Lonnin/Kingston Girls
Miller And The Lass
Herring Song
Mons Meg
Tuesday Morning
Haddock And Chips
The Americans Have Stolen My True Love Away
Zycanthos Jig/Tommy's Foot/Quebecois
The Sweetness Of Mary/Holywell Hornpipe/Swedish
Benjamin Bowmaneer
Commodore Moore/The Black Dance/A Andy O

Average customer rating:

well, I like it

Eliza Carthy & The Kings of Calicutt
Eliza Carthy
Manufacturer: Topic Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
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On Reflection
Anglicana
Rough Music
Angels & Cigarettes
Red

ASIN: B00000591J
Release Date: 1997-08-05

Tracks:

Trip
Whirly
Bonaparte's
Tractor
Mother
Mr. Walker
Sea
Sheffield
Fisher
Storyteller

Amazon.com

Eliza Carthy might have learned from the best--her parents are Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson--but she's rapidly developed into a staggering talent on her own. The Kings of Calicutt is just one of her projects, this exploring traditional music of all kinds--primarily English, but also American, and even Bahamian. For someone who's only been playing the fiddle for a short time, she's already acquired her own style, very much in the English tradition, and is coming on at a staggering pace. Her singing, too, continues to increase by leaps and bounds. This record contains one of the loveliest old songs recently found, "The Fisher Boy." This is a superbly adventurous record, made by someone who looks at traditional music with fresh eyes, and sees no borders. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

well, I like it.......2001-02-21

I'd have to say that Eliza Carthy and the Kings of Calicutt is good housecleaning music. Listening to this I can usually work up some enthusiasm for mopping. In other words, it's mostly uptempo, with a few good choruses to sing along to rather than attempts at vocal virtuosity. Eliza Carthy has a nice but not BIG voice and even on this where it's largely her singing, sometimes with backing singers, you can hear that she knows harmony singing. That gives it a sort of friendly, informal feel. So it's not a life-changing record, but it's a really good one nonetheless.

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