Magikal Folk of the Faraway Tree

The Magickal Folk Of The Faraway Tree is a double cd of traditional and folk songs, compiled from out of print releases by the Irish folk act ’The Magickal Folk of the Faraway Tree,’ a split release with the Deserted Village label. They began when David Colohan (Agitated Radio Pilot, United Bible Studies) got his hands on an edition of Peter Kennedy's classic collection "Folksongs of Britain and Ireland". Along with Shane Cullinane (The Cosmic Nanou, United Bible Studies) he began to pick songs to work on. Disregarding the notation they simply wrote their own music for the traditional lyrics.

Other songs such as Spencer The Rover and Donal Óg were learned from recordings and heard in sessions and are more faithfully recorded. The newer recordings on disc two are augmented by original instrumentals in the old style. The two discs cover all the classic folk themes: homesick emigrants, murder, drinking, war and love. These are songs of the people whether they are sung in English, Manx French or Gaelic.

The actor Caroline Coffey (also heard on The Jonah by UBS) provides the sole female voice, sometimes a gentle ghostly whisper, other times a more like a banshee. She is also a more full-bodied presence on rousing songs such as Here's A Health To All True Lovers. Sure enough other members of United Bible Studies contributed; Gavin Prior and Scott McLaughlin on various strings and Seán Óg who plays flute.

While United Bible Studies and Agitated Radio Pilot are at the modern/exploratory end of the folk continuum, The Magickal Folk Of The Faraway Tree take a traditional approach, sticking to acoustic instruments. Nevertheless, purists may be perplexed when confronted with completely new melodies to familiar song titles.

Those who have never heard the 'originals' would have no reason to suspect the melodies were written in the 21st century. Therein lies the strength of this double album; Imagination and energy are brought to old songs but with a love of the tradition evident at all times.

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