Haute qualité Migrating Bird: The Songs of Lal Waterson [Slipcase] by Various Artists NEUF

Performer Notes:

• Personnel: Nancy Wallace, James Yorkston (vocals, guitar); Joanna Bartlett (vocals); Stephen Cracknell (guitar, percussion); Simon Lord (banjo); Jennymay Logan (violin); Rob Spriggs (viola); Kevin Murphy (cello).
• Liner Note Author: Charlotte Greig.
• Recording information: Analogue Catalogue; Bark Studio, London, England; Experimental Audio, Dublin, Ireland; Safe & Sound Studio, Oslo, Norway.
• Photographer: Brian Shuel.
• Arrangers: Malcolm Lindsay; Stephen Cracknell; Lal Waterson; Oliver Knight.
• A good tribute album often can be a benefit if the subject of the tribute is relatively obscure, serving as a chance to place a figure or style squarely in a new context. While Migrating Bird itself is like many other efforts -- a mix of the quite enjoyable and the well-meant but not always successful -- as a chance to showcase British folksinger Lal Waterson, who came to prominence in the 1960s as part of her family group, the Watersons, and then performed and released irregularly on her own and with others until haute qualité her passing in the late 90s, its a gentle treasure. Its also a good sampler of whatever the psych-folk scene can be called these days, ranging as it does from a near contemporary veteran of Watersons (Vashti Bunyan, who concludes the disc with an interpretation of the title track) to Young Turks such as Alasdair Roberts, whose "The Bird" is a lovely, delicate interpretation with just voice and piano able not only to demonstrate the songs beauty but his own fine gifts. Other efforts of interest come from Victoria Williams, whose older, twang-tinged voice comes off to intriguing effect on Watersons most well-known effort, "Red Wine and Promises," and the inimitable Michael Hurley, with his own striking singing and the gentle touch of accordion resulting in one of the albums warmest, most inviting contributions on "How Can I Leave?" Charlotte Greig matches him with a similar instrumental approach on "Her White Gown," her own resonant voice another strong standout. At its worst the disc is fair but never horrible; if songs like Nancy Elizabeths "Cornfield" and Jeb Loy Nichols "Stumbling On" leave little impact, they still sound pleasant and arent a disservice to Watersons memory. ~ Ned Raggett

Professional Reviews: Dirty Linen (p.50) - "Its a rare tribute album that doesnt simply make you wish to hear the original tunes, but actually adds new shades and colors to an established performers songs, as this excellent album most certainly does."

Producer: Lindsey Woolsey, Malcolm Lindsay, Stephen Cracknell

Format: CD (1 Disc); Stereo

Country: USA

Studio/Live: Studio

Release Date: 1 April, 2008

Label: Forced Exposure

Dimensions: 12.6 x 14.5 x 0.6 centimeters (0.09 kg)