Lisa Knapp – The Summer Draws Near, A Branch of May
Self Released – 23 July 2018 (Digital Release – Ltd CDs still available)
In 2012, Lisa Knapp released Hunt The Hare – A Branch of May, a five-track EP that celebrated the customs and folklore surrounding the month of May on which she was aided by Alasdair Roberts, Pete Flood on percussion (Bellowhead) and producer Gerry Diver (read our interview here).
The Summer Draws Near was initially conceived as part of 2017’s Pledge Campaign for her 2017 album Till April is Dead: A Garland of May. The release has now been digitally released via Bandcamp and streaming services. If you’re after a physical release there are just a few of these left to sell on Bandcamp (link below). As with part one, there is a complimentary design by Dom Cooper (Bare Bones, Rif Mountain).
With this release Lisa says she opted for a pared-down lo-fi approach… “the intent was to capture an earthy, rootsy feel with emphasis on performance and story alone in contrast to Chapter one which has more studio work.”
Whilst the sound of buzzing bees, ticking clocks and the distant cuckoo added their magic to ‘Hunt the Hare’, ‘The Summer Draws Near’ is enriched in a different way by Lisa’s approach. The EP opens with the very call of Spring with ‘Cuckoo’. This song has many variants although Lisa’s seems closest to that collected by Alfred Williams which features in Folk songs of the upper Thames (1923). Lisa’s lone vocals add to the air of mystery and darkness that surrounds this elusive bird. Well, maybe not so elusive now thanks to satellite tagging but let’s not spoil the moment with ornithological science.
On the thirteen-minute rendition of Barbary Ellen, another ballad which has numerous versions. Accompanied by plucked viola, there remains a sparseness that makes her voice all the richer and expressive, her strongest instrument, all of which is used to build a remarkable tension which proves to be as gripping as it is sorrowful.
The mid-point May Song has a strong pagan feel with drones and strident primitive sounding percussion (courtesy of Gerry Diver) that lends an earnestness to this ballad which is being sung at night to a sleeping maid to wake up and take the May bush in before the blossom is gone. This version is similar to that featured on Martin Carthy’s 1979 album Because It’s There.
Sombre tones are in order for the gruesome dark tale of Maria Marten who went to meet William Corder at The Red Barn to be wed. She was never seen again but eleven months later Maria’s mother had a series of dreams following which she was able to reveal her daughter’s body was buried beneath the red barn floor. For those interested, there’s an in-depth article on this Suffolk Tragedy and the oral tradition here.
The sound of a Blackbird singing (the only field recording I could detect on this release) opens the finale…Ploughboy’s Glory. Accompanied on piano, the tone of the song is at odds with the title of The Jolly Ploughboys under which it is also known. Lisa found this version in a small book called The Ploughboy’s Glory: A Selection of hitherto unpublished folk songs collected by George Butterworth. She notes “Also known as Two Brethren, I love the honesty and simplicity of this song with its correlative cycles of nature and agriculture with human nature and life.”
On this Branch of May sequel, Lisa again captures some of the mystery and magic of May. Whilst there are darker shades than that offered on part 1, the choice of song is no less thought-provoking and inspiring. Her pared-back approach brings her voice to the fore and highlights her ability to balance the skills of singer and storyteller – no easy task and one that sets this release apart. We look forward to more tales from the May Queen.
Order it here: https://lisaknapp.bandcamp.com/album/the-summer-draws-near
Also via – https://lisaknapp.lnk.to/summerdrawsnear