Devils And Doxies is an amazing album by English band Greenman Rising.
I had the good fortune of seeing Greenman Rising live last year at the Ragged Bear festival. I was struck by the band’s line up as well as the range of instruments played, from the usual guitar and fiddle to a treble recorder, bodhran and a hurdy gurdy.
The majority of the vocals on Devils And Doxies come from Jen Waghorn. It is a real pleasure to hear Waghorn’s voice and vocals. The world of UK folk music is firmly in the left wing arena of life yet female vocalists are still expected to sing within a certain range and appear alluring or wistful. A voice that commands attention and is thrown around in a way I have not heard in many years is not expected from a female vocalist, especially in a band that is neither a novelty nor a comedy outfit.
Devils And Doxies covers well known songs that fans of bands such as Levellers and Steeleye Span are familiar with such as Lowlands of Holland and Bedlam Boys. Fans of Blackbeard’s Tea Party will be enamoured with the vocals of Steve Bentley on the track Vic Williams which was written by Robb Johnson in 1991. This track was written about the first Gulf War, which could, sadly, be about the second Gulf War with its mention of friendly fire, soldiers being commanded to do what goes against their conscience and the mess it leaves soldiers with after they come home.
The track Winter Winds is a pause, a break from the folk style of the album. Winter Winds stops us and slows everything down. Like Eliza Carthy And The Wayward Band and The Moulettes, the track Winter Wind uses folk instruments but delivers a non-folk song. Waghorn’s voice chills and warms at the same time, like a fur coat gliding over snow.
The rest of the album is very much a folk album, taking traditional tunes and repackaging them for a modern audience. If you are not sure what folk music is, think of Bilbo’s birthday party in Fellowship Of The Ring; dancing, romancing and fireworks, although the romancing on this album is minimal because all the male suitors are devils and all the female suitors are doxies.
You can buy Devils And Doxies for £12.00 from http://www.greenmanrising.co.uk
Greenman Rising are also a ceilidh band and are available to play for weddings and other events. You can contact Greenman Rising via their website. Enjoy!
catherinehume 