Sometimes one is down, sometimes one is up. I'm usually down, liking the darker side of music. This new CD by the very interesting band Treebeard does 'the stuff' quite well. The self penned songs by Mr McMahon are splendidly self searching - ever killed a unicorn lately?

The instrumental tracks, well known jigs and reels from the folkrock cannon, are carried off vith verve and passion.....but it's the covers of of, in my humble opinion, some fantastic songs that makes this CD a total cracker. U2 'Still Haven't found What I'm Looking For' - excelent harmonies. REMs - 'The End Of The World' - works a treat.It's nice to see a Rory Gallager song included ' Barley and Grape Vine' cool arrangement.

'Nothing ever happens, nothing at all' from that Scotish band - we love this song, and this performance is spot on. JRRT - Oh my - JRRT - 'Far over the Misty Mountain' great words (of course) works a treat. (Read The Hobbit)

If a band has to do 'The Hangman and the Papist' and 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' it must be a mighty brave band - good try folks, but not quite there - but thanks for trying:)

Other than the two songs mentioned above, and I'm only critical because I love the originals so much, this is a damn fine album.

http://www.treebeard.org.uk
Jon Hall - September 2002