Reviews
Brother Crow - One For Sorrow
Review by Mike Wilson, Folking.Com, August 2007
Brother Crow are a formidable acoustic duo, made up of Andrew Davison (vocals, guitar and bouzouki) and Graeme Carroll (mandolin). The guys hail from the rural North East of England, and the influences of the Durham Dales resonate strongly throughout their self-penned efforts, bringing to life the area's characters of past and present. Their song-writing demonstrates a canny knack for creating material that is at once timeless, soaking up traditional influences and telling a great story -- think somewhere between Steve Tilston and Show of Hands.
The ghosts of local characters loom large in a number of impressive songs. The epic "How Do You Do Tom Barton" remembers the 1908 tragedy of a local miner, badly burned whilst rescuing a child from a fire, then tragically killed some weeks later in a mining accident. The song builds momentum to a powerful crescendo that flawlessly accentuates the drama of the lyrics; "What would you have done if you'd known you only had six weeks to live with the scars." We are taken even further back in time, to the 17th century, with "The Ballad of John Duckett," compassionately recalling the story of John Duckett and Ralph Corby, both executed for performing a Catholic Baptism at the height of the English Civil War. It is these stories from history that really leave their mark after just one listen -- obviously well researched and faithfully recounted.
Elsewhere, local characters feature again, this time in a modern day tale of a Bishop Auckland street renowned as a meeting place for courting couples, whilst "Wonderland" tells the story of losing touch with a friend who moves away in pursuit of a better life; "I never thought I'd come to understand, how so much can change between here and wonderland." A tender, reminiscent piece remembering departed family, "Let The Dance Go On," achieves particularly poignancy and provides further evidence of the duo's considerable song-writing abilities.
Instrumental accompaniment is minimal, striking just the right balance between charm and bleakness as the mood of the song requires -- the constant presence of Carroll's mandolin providing the lighter contrast to Davison's sturdy guitar. Throughout One For Sorrow Davison's voice provides a stirring focus, effortlessly carrying the emotions of the lyrics.
Brother Crow are likely to win over many new friends with One For Sorrow. Indeed, the strength of their material suggests they have written songs that may well be with us for a long time to come.
Brother Crow – One For Sorrow
Review by Dave Kidman, Folk Roundabout, November 2007
Brother Crow (alias guitarist-songwriter Andrew Davison and mandolinist-tunewriter Graeme Carroll) hail from Weardale, in the rural North East, and they perform (Andrew’s) original songs about the people, places and historical events of the Durham Dales on one hand and about family or more personal matters on the other.
These songs are certainly memorable, many of them peculiarly haunting, and their lyrics (suitably evocative, while not exactly in the Bob Pegg class) are well matched by the style of the accompanying instrumentation – gently tuneful (in the folk-rock sense) mandolin and delicate-but-powerful bouzouki and guitar, with the relaxed poise of a Magna Carta or Blondel but no lack of drive in the rhythmic impetus when required.
All of the songs share an appealing demeanour of reflective introspection, even when recounting those historical events or issues – which is no bad thing – and they use their extended span (most weigh in at over five minutes’ duration) wisely without outstaying their welcome.
Andrew’s done his research into the events, people and places he chronicles, and his songs have the stamp of authority that goes with such territory. At times I was reminded of the songs and styling of masters of this type of song such as Tom Bliss and Steve Knightley: without appearing derivative, The Ballad Of John Duckett put me in mind of early Show Of Hands material (again, no bad role-model!).
On the life-experience front, simple values and aspirations are celebrated on Settle Down, and Let The Dance Goes On is a loving memoir of Andrew’s family. And I particularly liked Lilies And Blood Roses, “a jolly little song about a suicide pact” which has a keen traditional feel (complete with catchy refrain).
Finally, Graeme’s degree of accomplishment as a tunesmith (he won the Durham Traditional Music Festival’s James Hill Trophy two years running!) is cheekily showcased midway through the disc on the brief and charming Arran Set.
This disc’s overall attractiveness is further enhanced by its pure-toned, clear and uncluttered recording and artful cover photography.
Brother Crow – One For Sorrow
Review Froots Magazine No. 294, December 2007
“Thumbs Up”
Original music replete with the charm of the duo’s native Weardale, presenting historical songs about the Durham Dales interspersed with more introspective and reflective compositions (all from the pen of guitarist Andrew Davison). Some attractive, gentle-but-complex mandolin playing (Graeme Carroll) and a commendably clear recording to match.
Brother Crow - One For Sorrow
Review by Tim Carroll, FolkWords (www.folkwords.com), February 2008.
One for Sorrow - is a selection of yearning, searching songs from Durham-based duo Brother Crow. There’s depth here that makes an exceptional debut album. Brother Crow is Andrew Davison (vocals, guitar and bouzouki) and Graeme Carroll (mandolin, tenor banjo).
Andrew delivers his powerful lyrics in a compelling, grief-stricken edgy voice that takes some getting used to - but once you do it’s a voice that you want to hear more and more. Speaking as an avid fan of the story-telling folk song, his ability to create narrative lyric-pictures is outstanding. These are lyrics worth taking time to know. Graeme’s musicianship takes the mandolin to heights many will not expect. His style intertwines traditional with contemporary, which can make his playing hard to date, and all the better for that.
With so much to offer, One for Sorrow reaches out to touch your soul and that makes it hard to choose favourites. The world has many songs about death and revenge - few have the darkness and power of Tom Lowrie. And then there’s How Do You Do Tom Barton? - a perfect showcase for their flair - Graeme weaves a precise musical net to catch the lyrics, while Andrew’s voice drives the story home inch by painful inch. The Ballad of John Ducket is one of those mournful, poignant songs that prompt tears to your eyes before the end. Wonderland, is a deeply conveyed pain of lost love, and my favourite, Let the Dance Go On is just perfect - full of understanding and concentrated emotion. It´s a perfect tribute to one man’s past and future, a glorious song - no argument.
Brother Crow offer their audience profound, penetrating, intense songs delivered with feeling and passion - and that’s a talent many will envy.
Moonbeams Acoustic - Live Review
Steve Rudd, thisisull.Com
Headlining the evening after acting as soundmen for the four acts that had preceded them, on strutted Brother Crow, a duo from Weardale. With Andrew Davison on vocals, guitar and bouzouki, and Graeme Carroll weaving intoxicating melodies aplenty on mandolin, they are renowned for their haunting, captivating songs, the themes of which are often dominated by County Durham's long association with coal-mining.
Performing songs from their One For Sorrow album, they commanded the stage from the off, Let The Dance Go On moving in its sentiments. Like Anna Shannon before them, Brother Crow are fond of romanticizing everyday folk in their ballads, making heroes of the unheroic.
While Andrew explained the stories behind their songs, Graeme was content to lose himself in the music, swaying in time to the plucky melodies.
How Do You Do Tom Barton? makes a rightful hero of a man who rushes into a burning house to try and save a child, only to fail in his mission. Nevertheless, Tom Barton is still regarded as a hero for so bravely putting his life on the line; what's more, Brother Crow are set to play the song at a memorial service being held for Tom in Willington, County Durham, come July.
Let's just hope they can find time to return to a future Moonbeams evening though, for their passionate performance was the icing on what had been yet another sweet feast of music, from a variety of uniformly superb acts.
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