eMusic

Start Your Trial

Street Cries

by

Ashley Hutchings

 
Street Cries
view larger image View Larger

Rate it!

Avg: 3.5 (4 ratings)

  • They Say...

    Ashley Hutchings had an intriguing idea: Why not take traditional folk songs and write new, updated lyrics to them? Even better, why not invite a bunch of great artists like Dick Gaughan and Helen Watson to record the pieces? And this is exactly what Street Cries does. Interestingly, when Hutchings transforms "The Blacksmith" into "A Drummer Won My Love," he doesn't change the subject matter, but modernizes the words. Beautifully sung by Kathryn Roberts, the piano and clarinet add other contemporary touches. Two high school girls helped Hutchings convert the press gang of "All Things Are Quite Silent" to the drunken gang, fresh from the pub, of "These Cold Lips." Accompanied by a piano, June Tabor provides an austere reading of this dark tune. Pete Morton's rousing take on "Damn the Day" (originally "Adieu, Adieu") confirms that a fresh version has the power to revive and make relevant a tired, old folk song. It should also be noted that Hutchings, whether he intended to or not, does a good job of balancing male and female vocalists. Of course traditionalists will cry foul, as they always have when revivals and revivalists decide to put a new spin on a worn-out classic. Hutchings convincingly suggests, however, that singers have always updated folk songs to fit their time and circumstance. Street Cries is a lovingly made, vibrant album that will give a number of folk songs a new life.

  • You Say...

    I would like to say...

    Artist: Ashley Hutchings

    Album: Street Cries

    Review Title: (maximum 50 characters)

    Your Review: (maximum 1,000 characters)

    Cancel

    Please keep your comments to the recordings themselves, and be courteous and respectful. Thanks! For further info, read our Community Guidelines.

    Write a Review

The indie iTunes — Hardcore music fans are migrating to eMusic, the iTunes Music Store's cheaper, cooler cousin.


Rolling Stone
Start Your Trial

© 1998-2008 eMusic.com Inc. eMusic and the eMusic logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks in the USA or other countries. All rights reserved.

All Music Guide © 1992 - 2008 All Media Guide, LLC
Portions of content provided by All Music Guide, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC

YouTube, Flickr™ and Wikipedia® are registered trademarks of their respective owners, Google, Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Neither Google, Inc., Yahoo! Inc. nor Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. are partners or sponsors of eMusic. eMusic uses the Flickr, YouTube and Wikipedia API but is not endorsed or certified by Flickr, YouTube and Wikipedia. eMusic does not pre-screen, monitor, endorse nor assume any liability for websites, contents, products, services or claims made by YouTube, Flickr™ and Wikipedia®.