The latest reviews from Kevin Bryan.

Old Man Luedecke, "Domestic Eccentric" (True North Records)- This beguiling collaboration  between banjo wielding Canadian balladeer Chris Luedecke and Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist Tim O'Brien  was captured for posterity at  the former's snowbound Nova Scotia cabin during a week of intense activity last winter, and the finished product is an acoustic gem of the highest order. Roots  enthusiasts should find it well nigh impossible to resist the homespun charms of  "The Early Days" and "Now We Got A Kitchen," two fine tracks which  provide ample evidence that the pairing between Messrs. Luedecke and O'Brien was clearly a musical marriage made in heaven.

 

 

 Percy Sledge,"Live in Kentucky" (Wienerworld )-Wienerworld's latest  CD/ DVD package was recorded at  veteran soulman Sledge's  2006 show at Kentucky's Mountain Arts Centre . The former hospital orderly struck gold very early in his recording career when his debut single,"When A Man Loves A Woman" soared into the higher reaches of the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic in 1966,and this majestic ballad provides the  memorable  finale for an undemanding  jaunt down memory lane which also  revives some lesser known gems from Percy's ilustrious back catalogue including  "I'll Be Your Everything," "Take Time To Know Her"  and "Out Of Left Field."

 

Fairport Convention, "Beyond The Ledge" (Wienerworld)- Fairport's annual get together in the sleepy  village of Cropredy has become one of the highlights of the English folk calendar, and this newly released DVD focusses attention on their excellent  two hour show at the 1998 festival. Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg and company were  in particularly fine fettle as they regaled their receptive Oxfordshire audience  with freshly minted versions of much loved old favourites from the dim and distant past such as  "Crazy Man Michael," "Matty Groves" and the late great Sandy Denny's haunting "Who Knows Where The Time Goes."

 

Mike Heron,"Smiling Men With Bad Reputations" (Talking Elephant)- Incredible String Band stalwart Heron assembled a stellar line-up of rock and folk musicians to underpin his efforts when he put together his first solo album in 1971, and "Smiling Men With Bad Reputations" was hailed by the critical fraternity as  an eclectic masterpiece, although it was never particularly successful in purely commercial terms.  Luminaries such as John Cale, Jimmy Page, Richard Thompson and Elton John  all lent a hand as Heron delivered quirkily memorable ditties such as "Call Me Diamond," "Feast of Stephen" and "Warm Heart Pasty," the latter  boasting telling contributions  from Pete Townshend and Keith Moon of Who fame.