From: Pete Fyfe
[petefyfe_at_aol_dot_com]
Sent: 27 May 2012 12:18
Subject: Pete Fyfe: Chris
Ricketts - Outward Bound CD & Sleeve
Attachments: Chris_Ricketts_-_Outward_Bound.jpg
CHRIS RICKETTS - Outward Bound
(AF Records AF02)
Chris Ricketts has found a niche
that appears to have been overlooked by many other youngsters from the
Newcastle Folk & Traditional course namely that pivotal role of the much
maligned ?Shantyman'. Until the recent commercially accepted exposure of Port
Isaac's Fishermen's Friends these predominantly chorus integrated songs may
have sounded at best ?obscure' and, at times down right ?old fashioned'.
Personally I can't see that happening so long as we have the youthful
exuberance of artists the calibre of Ricketts and his partners in crime
(multi-instrumentalist Steve Hampton and fiddler Garry Blakeley) to?as it were,
push the boat out. Between them the trio make (as You Slosh used to say) a
glorious racket combining their requisite skills in various genres from full-on
folk-rock to encompassing Reggae and Blues. The band not only plagiarise genres
but aren't averse to recreating bygone era sounds of established artists
including Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span. Take for instance "Rio Grande"
where the mandolin introduction sounds as if it could have been lifted straight
from a performance by Peter Knight and "John Kanaka" where "Feelin' Groovy"
really bridges the gap. Now, ?dated' isn't a word I would choose to use because
how can you ?date' something that never goes out of fashion. Ricketts and his
crew prove this time and again and if you can't get something out of each of
these tracks then could I suggest you must have spent too much time in the
brig. All of the tracks are well established favourites including "Bully In The
Alley", "Sally Brown" and "Drunken Sailor" but given a good dusting and kicking
could provide the effervescent youth of today with that essential ?festival'
spirit. If you're looking to rekindle your youth or indeed in need of a
pick-me-up then look no further. www.chrisrickettsmusic.com
PETE FYFE