Groanbox

The book says that this is World Roots – I can’t say that I’m familiar with the term but musically they are somewhere around Blues and Folk with more than a hint of Jazz, some Zydeco touches and even a didgeridoo; in other words no limits and completely eclectic. In more other words I love it to bits!

Groanbox are Paul Clifford, Cory Seznec and Michael Ward-Bergeman and this is the first time they have actually recorded in a studio – all their previous albums were recorded in natural acoustics or found environments – but the experience doesn’t seem to have done them any harm. The music comes over with all their normal humour and sparkle and the producer, James Birtwhistle, has avoided the trap of squeezing the charm out of the band by over-recording them.

Musically they are completely original and they spread their talents widely through the folk Blues of ‘Muddy Shoals’ or ‘Tuvan Voodoo’ with its Appalchian style banjo, haunting harmonica and droning accordion plus the didgeridoo or ‘Peasant Under Grass’ – a beautiful and sad lament that has Scottish folk touches and a wondrous vocal from Michael Ward-Bergeman.
The voices and the phrasings are uncommon and Groanbox seem to have picked up influences from all over but I can’t think of a minute of this collection of songs that I wasn’t riveted – either crying with the emotion of it all or stretching my brain trying to understand what was being done next.

They have taken the opportunity of a ‘proper’ studio to create a sound that is slightly more professional and they have kept their eclectic and anarchic nature while doing so – I’m impressed by the talent and lost in admiration at their music.