Leaf (label)
01 October 2007 (released)
17 September 2007
The word 'folk’ is somewhat like the word 'love’ in that it means everything and nothing all at once. It is used, abused, misappropriated and generally applied when you think you know what something might be, but you’re just not sure – 'it’s nice therefore it must be love' unfortunately mirrors 'it’s acoustic therefore it must be folk'.
Having recently seen James Yorkston perform at a local folk (yes, folk) festival, a festival for which the word parochial was invented, it was clear that crude cultural appropriations often do something of a disservice to those forced to function within the confines of them., thus proving my point – not really folk, and as far as the majority of the audience were concerned not really love either. Notwithstanding, of course Yorkston’s set was the brilliantly glimmering jewel in the crown of a day that was otherwise subsumed by a flavourless stew of stuffiness (at worst) and staunch traditionalism (at best).
Like Yorkston, Nancy Elizabeth (Cunliffe) is likely to confound those that rely on press releases to direct their listening. That said Nancy Elizabeth is another valuable addition to the canon of artists, such as Yorkston, Alasdair Roberts, Chris Wood, or even Roddy Woomble that have taken it upon themselves to take a seam of very British musical tradition and subvert it in the best way imaginable.
Cunliffe’s delivery is fragile, otherworldly and elegant, yet her song writing retains an insightfulness and awareness that immediately annihilates any parallel with the otherwise easy comparison of Vashti Bunyan’s delicate English whimsy. Recorded in part at a remote location in Wales and held together throughout by Cunliffe’s harp, dulcimer and guitar, augmented by complex and often unnervingly contemporary arrangements that include horn sections, accordion and goodness knows what else, this is a powerful debut that makes a worthy challenge to many other well established artists foraging through the same oh-so-leafy undergrowth.
Suffice to say that Nancy Elizabeth’s music, although doubtlessly informed by the British folk tradition, is less Fairport and more Newport. Nevertheless, Battle and Victory is an album well worth a listen.
