Ray Cooper - Tales of Love, War & Death By Hanging
|
If you contribute 5 dollars, RootsWorld survives. |
|
Ray Cooper - Tales of Love, War & Death By Hanging
|
|
Ray Cooper Ray Cooper, aka ‘Chopper,’ is well-known as the bassist – utilizing both electric bass, and cello – for the Oysterband. Tales of Love, War & Death By Hanging is Cooper’s first foray as a solo artist, and it is a remarkably rich, rewarding folk album. When John Jones, the lead singer of the Oysterband, released his solo album Rising Road (2009), one would have expected Jones’ voice to be the centerpiece. Cooper’s album is perhaps more surprising, not least due to the unveiling of his voice: a rich, sonorous instrument not unlike his expressive use of the cello. The overall, Tales… has an austere rusticity to it, which makes for an arresting listening experience. Ray Cooper recorded the album with Patrik Andersson (on violins and hardanger fiddle) in a cabin in Sweden, so it is a fair assessment to say that Tales… reflects a merging of U.K. folk and Nordic sensibilities. Such cross-pollination is present on the first track "The Puritan," a cinematic song that evokes the spirit of Cromwellian rebellion and, ultimately, regret over pillage and murder. Interestingly, the song never mentions Cromwell, and so the expressed sentiment of the reflective soldier attains universality resonant to contemporary times, when religious fervor is still treated as a justification for war. The tune is ‘based on an old Swedish hymn,’ and sets up the remainder of the album. A similar stripped-down effect is achieved on "I Kiss the Night," where Andersson’s hardanger fiddle plays a prominent role, framing Cooper’s words with a traditional Jämtland bridal march. "The Grey Goose Wing," about the battle of Agincourt, is augmented by both kantele and harmonium, providing the historical action with a kind of surreal magic and church-like atmospherics. The CD showcases a number of Cooper originals, so it is not just the directness of his voice which is a delight. His songwriting is excellent, and shines here in a way that shows his dues in the Oysterband. The beautiful "My Compass Points To North" would certainly not have been out-of-place on any Oysterband album, but it is a great showcase for Cooper’s cello playing and singing. Thematically, Cooper can write a great pop tune of longing, but it is notable that many of the songs here seem to be plucked from the pages of history (such as the aforementioned "The Grey Goose Wing" and "The Puritan"). Further, Tales… is also a tour-de-force of Cooper’s arrangements for traditional tunes. The version of "McPherson’s Rant" (which provides the album its Death By Hanging allusion) is positively fierce and urgent, replete with sparkling, slashing guitar. The arrangement of "Border Widow’s Lament" has a pleasing, old-fashioned folksiness to it, with guitar and harmonica the essential support. The closing ‘Ye Jacobites By Name/Sir Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch’ simply features Cooper singing and playing deep cello lines, and it is spellbinding. The truly great aspect of Tales of Love, War & Death By Hanging is that Ray Cooper, and executive producer Al Scott, have struck out a sonic terrain that captures the individual vision of Cooper as an artist. The album manages to be naked and daring, rugged and worn. These feelings are also captured in the great visuals that accompany the CD, which depict Cooper as an historical rogue, both battle-hardened and condemned to the gallows. This is a terrific album, one that you will carry with you down the days. – Lee Blackstone More from the artist: www.MySpace.com/RayCooperChopper CD and more audio samples available from cdRoots
|
|
|
|
