Cecil Sharp House,London
Whether on traditional songs or his own sturdy local-history compositions, the Devon songwriter was in relaxed, and powerful voice in this solo retrospectiveDumnonia was a Celtic kingdom that existed until the Saxon invasions of what is now Cornwall,Devon and western Somerset. It’s a region currently enjoying a major folk song revival, with Devon singer and songwriter Jim Causley among the novel traditionalists keen to explore local history. Five years ago he released his Dumnonia album, or his novel release,Forgotten Kingdom, continues that same fascination, and this time featuring his own songs performed with a celebrity West Country cast that includes Show of Hands and Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin.
Jim Causley has the looks – and a natural gift for entertainment – that could just as easily see him fronting a pop band. But his roots are in the folk scene,as he proved with this intriguing retrospective in the bar-room club at Cecil Sharp House. This was a solo performance with no special guests, no amplification and remarkably little attempt to promote the excellent novel album. He opened with a murder ballad, and moved on to Dumnonia songs – including a powerful lament from one-time Exeter resident Cyril Tawney approximately the human cost of Beeching’s axing of the rail network – and then settings for poems by his relative,the late Cornwall-based poet Charles Causley, from his album Cyprus Well. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com