Today sees the release of On Clay Hill, the debut album from Stick in the Wheel’s Fran Foote and her mother Belinda Kempster who is also a traditional singer. We reviewed the album recently which you can read here. To celebrate the release, they have shared a music video for John Barleycorn which you can watch below:
Belinda began singing traditional songs in the 1960s: “Our family has a history of farming and working on the land; these songs come from that way of life – at work and at play”. She met her husband in a folk club, and Fran grew up immersed in the local folk scene, learning songs from her parents from a very young age. As mother and daughter, Fran and Belinda have sung together privately for years, but it’s only now we all have a chance to hear Ian Carter’s recordings of their unique interpretations of mostly Essex-collected traditional songs. Encouraged by band and label founders Nicola and Ian, they bring timeless renditions without frills or fuss to a repertoire that is rich and varied.
Many of their songs were learned from Fran’s great uncle and farm labourer Ernie Austin, who was recorded for Topic’s ‘Voice of the People’ release ‘Flash Company’ in 1974. Austin lived and worked in the small village of Bentley, just outside Colchester, and sang songs related to his work and recreation. Stuff you’d sing down the pub.
‘Ernest Austin is now 83 years of age and he lives in a small village to the east of Colchester In Essex. He left school at 12 to work as a kitchen boy In a farmhouse, earning 3/6d In return for a 60-hour week. For most of his early life he worked on the land as a farm labourer until, with experience, he became an agricultural engineer, retiring at the age of 70.’ Flash Company, Topic Records sleevenotes
There’s a genuine warmth on these recordings and Ian Carter has managed to capture the passion these two have for traditional song. It’s an album you will take great pleasure in returning to time and again.
Order it now: https://belindafran.lnk.to/onclayhill
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