 | | Reviews | | |  JIM MORAY
Sweet England
Niblick Is A Giraffe Records NIBL003
Jim Moray has a voice of extraordinary purity and longing, born to sing the songs he's chosen - and written - on this, his first full-length CD. It's immediately captivating and will sink into your consciousness as the perfect vocal interpretation of these songs, ranging from hundreds of years ago through to the present day.
It is an extraordinary CD. It lifts the lid off English folk song like nothing else has in the past 30-plus years. To take songs that are well known to the point of being hackneyed, such as Early One Morning and (Raggle Taggle) Gypsies, and deal with them musically in such a different way is a brave move but Jim carries it off with a supreme confidence which is extremely exciting to hear.
Each track is completely different from the rest; you can listen again and again and still discover something new in each one every time. There's nothing to get bored with, no obvious formula to the beats and wonderful instrumental arrangements and just as impressive is the fact that the different sounds and styles never swamp the words or the story. Lord Bateman, April Morning, The Week Before Easter and particularly The Suffolk Miracle are captivating all over again when performed in this way, even if you know the words off by heart. This is what the last few years of experiments in sampling, programming, arranging and pushing the boundaries has been waiting for and Sweet England is as significant and groundbreaking to me now as Liege & Lief was to my parents' generation in the sixties.
Kit Bailey - May 2003
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 I'm not normally that keen on English folk music, but this is something else. Every song is approached in a different way that brings out the emotion behind it. The one song written by Moray, 'Longing for Lucy', is particularly poignant. Several times I have had this album playing when friends have come round and they have wanted to know who was playing. His live performance that I saw recently was equally impressive. I'll definitely buy his next album.
Martin, Dover
Sweet Engalnd is wonderful. We (family) play lots of music - and a v wide range - and this is right up there.
Owain Jones, Bath
Jim Moray is one of the most ground breaking and innovative artists I have ever heard. His approach to folk music is totally radical. His songs and melodies leave me speechless. Jim Moray derves recognition on a wider scale and having listened to his 2nd Album I fully believe the future is very prosperous for him.
James Stonley, Liverpool
Sweet England is the best song ever written. It is excellent, perfect, phenominal. Jim Moray is a wonderful singer and I can always depend on him for a great time while listening to music.
Seth, London | | | | | | |  |
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Folk & Acoustic
