From: Pete Fyfe [petefyfe_at_aol_dot_com]
Sent: 30 July 2012 04:56
Subject: Pete Fyfe: Halton Quartet CD Review & Sleeve
Attachments: Halton Quartet - Based On True Events.jpg
THE HALTON QUARTET Based On True Events (Own Label HQR001CD)
This is a very nicely structured album in that it reminds me of days gone by
when bands such as Nightnoise were recording for the Windham Hill record
label. The combination of acoustic jazz and folk music felt fresh in a
cultured way and so long as it wasn?t rammed down your throat could quite
easily settle in either pigeon-hole of your CD collection. In nurturing this
cross-fertilisation Adam Bulley (mandolin/guitar), Chas MacKenzie
(acoustic/electric guitar), Ruaridh Campbell (fiddle) and Angus Lyon
(accordion/rhodes) pave the way with sprightly tunes wrung as tightly as any
well-worn cloth used by a Glaswegian Fisher-Wife and the quartet?s infused
?world? mix of time signatures and rhythms proves generally consumer friendly
without sounding too clever or inaccessible. Personally I must admit to not
being struck by the over-driven (distorted) classical guitar employed on the
track ?Triger Part One? (or, maybe it?s just my equipment?) but that?s a minor
niggle when all of the band are obviously consummate musicians. On a final
note and to prove my point, check out the flamboyant weaving mandolin patterns
on Bulley?s ?Balkeerie Lights? it?ll astonish in a hearing Chris Thile for the
first time kind of moment and make the hairs stand up on the back of your
neck!
www.thehaltonquartet.com
PETE FYFE