Shuffle and Go

[fstix (Michael)]

A recently completed review.  

https://rootsandbranchesaustralia.wordpress.com/cd-review-fairport-convention-shuffle-and-go/

[mickf]

A recently completed review.  

https://rootsandbranchesaustralia.wordpress.com/cd-review-fairport-convention-shuffle-and-go/

A fair review, thanks for sharing. I received my copy a couple of days ago and have been playing it since.

First, my least favourite tracks - I'll pinch Michael's words here To my ears, other songs such as Linseed Memories and A Thousand Bars (the usual song about alcohol) don’t do much more than pass the time pleasantly

My favourite tracks are the opening one 'Don't Reveal My Name', 'Moses Waits' and 'Stardust & Solitude'. The two Ric Sanders instrumentals are decent and the two 'folky' ones ('Byfield Steeplechase' and 'Jolly Springtime') are definite growers. As for the rest - ok, but not particularly memorable.  I'm still reserving my judgement on the title track, it may grow on me.

[DarrenWilliams]

A recently completed review.  

https://rootsandbranchesaustralia.wordpress.com/cd-review-fairport-convention-shuffle-and-go/

A fair review, thanks for sharing. I received my copy a couple of days ago and have been playing it since.

First, my least favourite tracks - I'll pinch Michael's words here To my ears, other songs such as Linseed Memories and A Thousand Bars (the usual song about alcohol) don’t do much more than pass the time pleasantly

My favourite tracks are the opening one 'Don't Reveal My Name', 'Moses Waits' and 'Stardust & Solitude'. The two Ric Sanders instrumentals are decent and the two 'folky' ones ('Byfield Steeplechase' and 'Jolly Springtime') are definite growers. As for the rest - ok, but not particularly memorable.  I'm still reserving my judgement on the title track, it may grow on me.

I'm finding the title track more palatable on the album than live. The opener is strong, almost Richard Thompson-esque. Only listened to the album 1.5 times so far, buy I'd say it's on a par with Festival Bell and Myths and Heroes.

[Malcolm]

Having read the review, it states that there is use of the Summertime Blues chords in one of the tracks. Note the subtle use of a picture of a Gretsch on the cover?   Eddie's was standard orange, but mustn't be picky.

[paul bond 59]

I've played it constantly since it arrived on Thursday.
I find it quite gentle, agreeable even, I have to say that there's nothing on there that immediately jumps out as being outstanding, but I reckon it's a stayer.
A Thousand Bars is quite lovely and I must admit takes some shaking off, and it's good to hear Peggy take voice on Linseed Memories.

[Dan O.]

First listen to "Shuffle & Go" : if you're a fan of the current FC lineup, and I certainly am, then it's reassuringly business as usual - purchase or stream with confidence...

[Jim]

Hmmm, " business as usual"!
Does that mean its every bit as bland and uninspiring as everything the chaps have released in the last 20 years.

[hendo (Dave)]

Hmmm, " business as usual"!
Does that mean its every bit as bland and uninspiring as everything the chaps have released in the last 20 years.

I didn’t post Jim for fear of being labelled negative but ‘ Quite gentle and agreeable’ didn’t make me want to rush and get it, nor the review.
We moved house 6 months ago and as I sorted albums, (by genre and then alphabetically , obviously!)
I was aware of the recent Fairport albums that I religiously bought then , after their initial listening, have never listened to again. There isn’t , for me, a standout track ,tha5 pullsyou back, whereas Wounded Whale gets regular, LOUD, visits.

[paul bond 59]

Hmmm, " business as usual"!
Does that mean its every bit as bland and uninspiring as everything the chaps have released in the last 20 years.

I didn’t post Jim for fear of being labelled negative but ‘ Quite gentle and agreeable’ didn’t make me want to rush and get it, nor the review.
We moved house 6 months ago and as I sorted albums, (by genre and then alphabetically , obviously!)
I was aware of the recent Fairport albums that I religiously bought then , after their initial listening, have never listened to again. There isn’t , for me, a standout track ,tha5 pullsyou back, whereas Wounded Whale gets regular, LOUD, visits.

I fully understand where you're coming from. I too would love more Rock with my Fairport folk.

[fstix (Michael)]

Of course, nowadays you can just get whatever individual tracks you may like digitally, and disregard the rest.  

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

Hmmm, " business as usual"!
Does that mean its every bit as bland and uninspiring as everything the chaps have released in the last 20 years.

I didn’t post Jim for fear of being labelled negative but ‘ Quite gentle and agreeable’ didn’t make me want to rush and get it, nor the review.
We moved house 6 months ago and as I sorted albums, (by genre and then alphabetically , obviously!)
I was aware of the recent Fairport albums that I religiously bought then , after their initial listening, have never listened to again. There isn’t , for me, a standout track ,tha5 pullsyou back, whereas Wounded Whale gets regular, LOUD, visits.

I fully understand where you're coming from. I too would love more Rock with my Fairport folk.

I miss Maart more than ever  

[Malcolm]

Hmmm, " business as usual"!
Does that mean its every bit as bland and uninspiring as everything the chaps have released in the last 20 years.

I didn’t post Jim for fear of being labelled negative but ‘ Quite gentle and agreeable’ didn’t make me want to rush and get it, nor the review.
We moved house 6 months ago and as I sorted albums, (by genre and then alphabetically , obviously!)
I was aware of the recent Fairport albums that I religiously bought then , after their initial listening, have never listened to again. There isn’t , for me, a standout track ,tha5 pullsyou back, whereas Wounded Whale gets regular, LOUD, visits.

I fully understand where you're coming from. I too would love more Rock with my Fairport folk.

I miss Maart more than ever  

The last album I bought was Sense of Occasion by which time I realised that at most two tracks per album were to my liking. Swapping an electric guitar for a range of mandolin based instruments made them sound MOR even if that wasn't the intention.  

[paul bond 59]

Hmmm, " business as usual"!
Does that mean its every bit as bland and uninspiring as everything the chaps have released in the last 20 years.

I didn’t post Jim for fear of being labelled negative but ‘ Quite gentle and agreeable’ didn’t make me want to rush and get it, nor the review.
We moved house 6 months ago and as I sorted albums, (by genre and then alphabetically , obviously!)
I was aware of the recent Fairport albums that I religiously bought then , after their initial listening, have never listened to again. There isn’t , for me, a standout track ,tha5 pullsyou back, whereas Wounded Whale gets regular, LOUD, visits.

I fully understand where you're coming from. I too would love more Rock with my Fairport folk.

I miss Maart more than ever  

The last album I bought was Sense of Occasion by which time I realised that at most two tracks per album were to my liking. Swapping an electric guitar for a range of mandolin based instruments made them sound MOR even if that wasn't the intention.  

Yes, I find between two and five or six tracks are passable, the rest mere filler and the 'saccharine quotient' implausibly high.

[hendo (Dave)]

Hmmm, " business as usual"!
Does that mean its every bit as bland and uninspiring as everything the chaps have released in the last 20 years.

I didn’t post Jim for fear of being labelled negative but ‘ Quite gentle and agreeable’ didn’t make me want to rush and get it, nor the review.
We moved house 6 months ago and as I sorted albums, (by genre and then alphabetically , obviously!)
I was aware of the recent Fairport albums that I religiously bought then , after their initial listening, have never listened to again. There isn’t , for me, a standout track ,tha5 pullsyou back, whereas Wounded Whale gets regular, LOUD, visits.

I fully understand where you're coming from. I too would love more Rock with my Fairport folk.

I miss Maart more than ever  

The last album I bought was Sense of Occasion by which time I realised that at most two tracks per album were to my liking. Swapping an electric guitar for a range of mandolin based instruments made them sound MOR even if that wasn't the intention.  

Yes, I find between two and five or six tracks are passable, the rest mere filler and the 'saccharine quotient' implausibly high.

Yep Paul, couple of tracks I really like, instrumentals are really good too but it’’s been done before.
With instrumentals I think it’s the production. Playing is excellent , production is very good but it’s very safe, very similar sound to everything before. Everything just a bit too clean for me but it’s a personal opinion but I will get shot down by people who will tell me just to  the band and if not , to go away.
So I will go away....😂😱😉

[davidmjs]

I'll just sit quietly in the corner (with my hands wedged firmly under my bottom)....  

[paul bond 59]

Hmmm, " business as usual"!
Does that mean its every bit as bland and uninspiring as everything the chaps have released in the last 20 years.

I didn’t post Jim for fear of being labelled negative but ‘ Quite gentle and agreeable’ didn’t make me want to rush and get it, nor the review.
We moved house 6 months ago and as I sorted albums, (by genre and then alphabetically , obviously!)
I was aware of the recent Fairport albums that I religiously bought then , after their initial listening, have never listened to again. There isn’t , for me, a standout track ,tha5 pullsyou back, whereas Wounded Whale gets regular, LOUD, visits.

I fully understand where you're coming from. I too would love more Rock with my Fairport folk.

I miss Maart more than ever  

The last album I bought was Sense of Occasion by which time I realised that at most two tracks per album were to my liking. Swapping an electric guitar for a range of mandolin based instruments made them sound MOR even if that wasn't the intention.  

Yes, I find between two and five or six tracks are passable, the rest mere filler and the 'saccharine quotient' implausibly high.

Yep Paul, couple of tracks I really like, instrumentals are really good too but it’’s been done before.
With instrumentals I think it’s the production. Playing is excellent , production is very good but it’s very safe, very similar sound to everything before. Everything just a bit too clean for me but it’s a personal opinion but I will get shot down by people who will tell me just to  the band and if not , to go away.
So I will go away....😂😱😉

Firstly, no one has the right to tell you to go away, and that sort of attitude is why I decamped the Fairporters site on farcebook, and yes, I was a moderator for that group once upon a time.
There's only one decent Ric tune on the album and that's the closer. Cider Rain could easily be Radio 6 friendly if another artist took it and worked on it, and 1,000 Bars is a beauty.

[GubGub (Al)]

I'll just sit quietly in the corner (with my hands wedged firmly under my bottom)....  

If you are suffering, specialist cushions are available.  

[davidmjs]

I'll just sit quietly in the corner (with my hands wedged firmly under my bottom)....  

If you are suffering, specialist cushions are available.  

Lol. My specialist cushion is an original cassette version of Full House I've just bought for a tenner.  Been on my wants list for years.  As for the current album, I shall give it a listen when it's available on Spotify or similar.  I know I won't enjoy it though, so it's bound to end in tears.

[paul bond 59]

I'll just sit quietly in the corner (with my hands wedged firmly under my bottom)....  

If you are suffering, specialist cushions are available.  

Lol. My specialist cushion is an original cassette version of Full House I've just bought for a tenner.  Been on my wants list for years.  As for the current album, I shall give it a listen when it's available on Spotify or similar.  I know I won't enjoy it though, so it's bound to end in tears.

Full House on cassette, there can't be many of those in existence after 50 years!
I have to admit my copy of the nre album was bought for me by a mste as a get well soon prezzie.
I'd sworn that after 50:50@50 I wouldn't buy any more FC albums until something - possibly the line up- changed.
I do have to admit, gift horse though it is, that I find some pleasure in S&G.

[GubGub (Al)]

I know that we have been down this road before, usually whenever Fairport put out a new record but their problem is, more than any other act I can think of, that they are not one band. They are a series of different bands, each with their own distinct flavour so the Fairport of the debut album sounds nothing like the Fairport of Liege & Leif, which sounds nothing like Nine, which sounds nothing like Gladys Leap, which sounds nothing like Jewel In The Crown which sounds nothing like anything thereafter.

People who first came to the current line up tend to love them. People who came to them before 1979 tend to think the new music is a fraudulent use of the name and a betrayal of the band's legacy. Some people who arrived with Liege & Leif heavily disliked Nine. All the band can do is plough their own furrow and the audience is free to pick and choose the eras that appeal to them with so much diversity of material available. At this point it is pointless to expect another Full House or to be disappointed by not getting one. The sort of music they make now is not solely about capability, it is largely a choice on the part of the band.

I haven't heard the new album yet. I expect to like bits of it and really dislike other bits in the same way as I have for the last couple of studio albums (not including 50:50@50 which was pretty much a disaster). In a career spanning Fairport playlist I shall enjoy listening to the bits I like alongside other Fairport songs but as an album it is unlikely to be amongst those I will reach for regularly and I wouldn't expect it to be at this point in their career.