Reviews of "Beneath the Black Tree"
SPIRAL EARTH - WEB MAGAZINE
Devonshire is a captivating area of the world and birthplace of some very fine music. And it's often you will find the beauty of that county reflected in the work of its artists such as Phil Beer and Seth Lakeman. Now, to add to that list of creative Devonians come Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll, a fiddle playing duo, with a formidable musical knowledge and style. 'Beneath the Black Tree' isn't played exclusively on fiddles but this is where you'll find the album's heartbeat. It's the thrill of wood and string and the glory of acoustic instruments that is on show here. Two fiddles played with a recorded clarity that lets you follow each microtonal shift as they work in complimentary patterns - akin to a strand of DNA spiralling off in search of a natural conclusion. The ten tracks contain three instrumental originals; all quietly gripping and a sure sign of this duo's ample resources as composers. 'The Antimacassar' and 'Flying Fish' are characterized by featherlight concise phrases which never lose their airborne qualities, despite being shot through with gorgeous shards of darkness and rich melancholy. Slightly different in tone is 'Barnstable To Umberleigh' which tells of the title's journey in landscape evoking tones reminiscent of Wistman's Wood. The originals act as an ideal foil for their arrangements of traditional song. And a fine selection we have; there's an immediately impressive 'Benjamin Bowmaneer' - last heard by this reporter on Eliza Carthy's 'Rice' album - and 'Edward' - a child ballad from the Appalachians. Through each narrative Nick shows his expertise as a fiddle-singer and for 'The Robber' he admirably stretches himself around the tune with a strident voice somewhat akin to Seth's - if not exactly in tone, then certainly something in the phrasing and delivery of his words. Of course, being fiddlers, there's some dancing tunes, and yet even here they prove themselves to be anything but one-dimensional with 'The King Of Poland' taking the prize for most imaginative use of a glockenspiel. For this tune it underlies the melody with an unnerving 'stay off the moor' creepiness that sends the mind reeling. With 'Beneath the Black Tree' Nick and Becki can now take their rightful place amongst the musical heritage of Devonshire and on the evolutionary path of folk's rich tapestry.
David Kushar - Spiral Earth (Apr 28, 2009)
BRIGHT YOUNG FOLK - WEB MAGAZINE
Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll are an increasingly well known fiddle duo based in the South West. Their eponymous first album was released in 2006, and the pair have since been regulars at folk festivals and in running music workshops.
Their new album, ‘Beneath the Black Tree’ also features guests Jackie Oates (viola) and Keith Angel (percussion). The tracks are traditional English folk based on the fiddle, but with a real inventive touch introducing elements from other musical genres. The result is a dramatic and atmospheric set of songs. The strongest tracks are those where Nick Wyke’s powerful vocals come in to tell the compelling story
of the highwayman driven to a life of crime to keep his wife in pretty ribbons (The Robber) or the fine interpretation of the traditional tale of the proud tailor going to war (Benjamin Bowmaneer).
Wyke & Driscoll’s playing is skillful and full of class, but the down to earth nature of the material let me imagine I was hearing this at the pub, in front of a roaring fire with a few good friends. I’ll be imagining myself ‘a wild and wicked youth’ for some time. Highly recommended.
Mike Hough - Bright Young Folk (May 14, 2009)
FATEA - WEB MAGAZINE
I don't know what they're putting in the water in Devon/Cornwall, but it certainly seems to have got the creative juices flowing. Nick Wyke & Becki Driscoll have put together a set of tunes and songs drawn from the english fiddle tradition and augmented them with a number from their own pens and bows. The resulting album "Beneath The Black Tree" is an album high on atmosphere and passion. The arrangements are infused with a sense of drama that brings out the best of the tune, pulling out the meaning. There's an earthy quality to the music, it feels like it's grown into it's self.
Neil King - Fatea (May 10, 2009)
MIKE WILSON, FOLK AND ROOTS
Beneath The Black Tree is an album of music that is as stark and beautiful as the imposing silhouetted tree and brooding, cloud-laden sky that graces the album artwork. Wyke and Driscoll's combination of fiddle and viola bring an alluring depth to this collection of primarily traditional material, with the full-bodied resonance of the viola adding a particular elegance and intensity. Andy Seward's double bass further heightens the potency, whilst varied and inventive percussion from Keith Angel provides an occasional contemporary leaning.
Wyke's bold and commanding voice brings an effortless potency to "Benjamin Bowmaneer," delivered with an authoritative military precision, whilst he sings with more sinister overtones on "The Robber." A mournful glockenspiel brings an eerie atmosphere to "The King Of Poland," played in a particularly redolent manner, before the piece builds to a majestic climax with the rousing warmth of Ellen Driscoll's French horn. There is a typically English feel to "Coronation Day" that perfectly evokes both reverence and regal celebration. Wyke and Driscoll's own compositions nestle comfortably amongst the traditional pieces, with a poise and spirit that is very much the equal of their predecessors.
Beneath The Black Tree succeeds by presenting traditional music through confident and considerate arrangements that avoid ramshackle pastiche, by opting for a refined performance that owes as much to chamber music as it might to folk music. The recording is beautifully open, allowing you to savour each subtle cadence and appreciate the uncluttered interplay between the instruments.
Mike Wilson, Folk and Roots, September 2009
NORTH DEVON JOURNAL - LOCAL NEWSPAPER
NICK and Becki present a varied programme of interesting and original material and also traditional material gleamed from various sources around the UK and Europe. Their fiddle playing, from the haunting and lilting to the bold and dramatic, shows the customary mastery of their instruments.
Nick adds his strong, unaffected voice and clear diction to three of the numbers.
I especially liked the magical arrangement of Benjamin Bowmaneer, a humorous tale from the Baring Gould collection. In this piece, as elsewhere, there is the very effective participation of the French horn played by Ellen Driscoll, not normally heard in folk bands but certainly an inspiration here.
Andy Seward and Keith Angel accompany on double bass and percussion respectively, with skill and sensitivity, and add considerably to the appeal of the performances. A most enjoyable hour's listening can comfortably be had in one sitting as there is great variety in content and style with some wonderful tunes from Nick and Becki's own composition.
We are fortunate indeed to have such a talented pair from the new generation of Devon folk artists on our doorstep.
Rodney Snowden - North Devon Journal (May 3, 2009)