Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
  One of her best.... December 10, 2004
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
June Tabor is not anyone's background music. You can't put her on to exercise, type a letter, etc. You'll get lost in the words and find yourself transported someplace else. Sometimes to a place you don't want to go. I echo the other reviewer's sentiments on "Cruel Mother." This is a song to be listened to first in the daylight. The album is primarily Scottish, full of all the gloom and dark humor.
Her Best Yet September 27, 2004
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I have been an admirer of June Tabor for many years. I have purchased many of her recordings, and thourghly enjoyed them.
But...
This is something different and extraordinary, The readings of these traditional songs is elegant, eloquent and (with risk of being pedandic as well as alliterive) very well enunciated!
Some of them, I knew, these took on a whole range of deeper meaning. Those that I did not know were a pleasure to (more alliteration) encompass.
Her voice is so expressive, and carries the melodies so well, the brilliant accompianment, sparse, (less is often more) but so well uderstood, is a revelation
This is wonderfull music, enjoy!!!
Elegantly dramatic February 21, 2004
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
If you already love June Tabor I suspect you'll love this - an album of well chosen (mainly Scottish borders) traditional folk songs.
The musical accompaniments are understated while June sings with much expressiveness within her somewhat formalistic styling: this serves to allow the lyrics prominence and they tend to the typically melodramatic as you would expect of such ballads.
That said I would also love to hear these songs sung a little looser by other singers and instrumentalists. But.... I adore Tabor's style so for me this CD is essential.
The beautiful insert booklet has all lyrics plus notes on the events on which some songs are based and/or something of the provenance of the tunes and words.
So for Tabor lovers: highly recommended -my favourite of hers along with Angel Tiger. (And "Cruel Mother" with Appalachian sources for tune and lyrics is stunning and almost worth the admission price by itself).
If you don't know Tabor beware - try to sample her first as I know people who dislike her singing.
Crucial!!!! December 3, 2003
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is one of her best!An essential, must-have.If You are reading this review, chances are, you love June Tabor.If so, buy this,you need it.Music doesn't get better than this.I would give it much more than 5 stars if I could!
JUNE TABOR RETURNS TO HER ROOTS! November 16, 2003
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
June Tabor's newest release "An Echo Of Hooves" marks a much needed return to her folk singing roots. As usual, June's voice is beautiful and the arrangements by Huw Warren and herself are absolutely incredible! All the songs are stories and the arrangements bring the action to life, as if you were seeing a movie. My favorite song on the entire disc is "THE CRUEL MOTHER". It's a chilling ghost story made even more bizarre by the piano arrangement of Huw Warren and the almost "serial killer-ish" tone in June's voice! The arrangement is written in a lydian scale, which gives the song a beautiful white sound of angelic purity, but the subject matter is dark and demented, it's absolutely a work of sheer genius!! I think a whole movie could be made just from this one song! The images that passed through my mind gave me the chills, and I've been haunted by it ever since I purchased the CD several days ago. A lot of research, feeling, and plain hard work has gone into the making of this CD, so I hate to say anything negative about it. But, I think the recording leaves a lot to be desired. The piano sounds muffled most of the time. Personally I like a more bright sounding piano. I don't know if this was intentional, or just a lack of production funds. I prefer the recording quality of the piano on Angel Tiger much more. Even so, if you love June Tabor, folk music, or just a good story, this disc is for you!
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