01 Bert Jansch - Brought With The Rain
02 Ryley Walker - On The Banks Of The Old Kishwaukee
03 Jake Xerxes Fussell - Have You Ever Seen Peaches Growing On A Sweet Potato Vine?
04 Nathan Salsburg - Sketch From Life
05 Jack Rose - Kensington Blues
06 Michael Chapman - Memphis In Winter
07 Marisa Anderson - Cloud Corner
08 Steve Gunn - Old Strange
09 John Hulburt - After The Storm
10 Daniel Bachman - Wine And Peanuts
11 Roy Harper - Time Is Temporary
12 Gwenifer Raymond - Sometimes There's Blood
13 Chuck Jackson - Ransom Street Blues
14 Cian Nugent And The Cosmos - Hire Purchase
15 75 Dollar Bill - I'm Not Trying To Wake Up
Personal Background: I used to have a big stack of Mojo magazines but unfortunately had to leave them behind during a hectic move. Now the December 2018 issue (301) is the start of my new collection and it came with a CD! I almost never got the CDs and I'm kind of surprised they still make them. In this case, the genre is one I care about and since my theory is that the modern folk revival is the only healthy musical theater left in the west, let's see if this sampling upholds my belief...
Resonance: Unlike indie music, people on the folk scene are still expected to play their guitar fluently and sing clearly, even though we're supposed to be above all that. Thankfully, Mojo respected the genre well enough not to force a bunch of “re-inventions” on their public – while there is some psychedelic and electronic influence, the great majority of these songs have the proper spirit in that they may be modern, but they are NOT contemporary (there's one exception). I listened to this CD and felt good almost the whole way. It’s refreshing and restful, a direct line to simpler times with no sell-by date. 4/5
Design: The selections are mostly contemporary, with a few old recordings by Bert Jansch and the like thrown in to give it some historical grounding. Although ‘Memphis in Winter’ is a deeply American dirge, almost every artist included appears to have likely heritage from the Isles, giving the assemblage a great unity of soul only spoiled by the last track: ‘I’m Not Trying to Wake Up,’ a 15-minute (!) blues drone by a multicultural New York duo taking their influence from Gnawan (!!) folk music. Wrong time, wrong place, dudes. It doesn’t fit the established spirit and only goes to show that British folk and blues is not interchangeable with anyone else's. So just turn it off when you ARE ready to wake up. 3/5
Utility: A lot of people like modern folk/indie music and leave the radio or Alexa on that type of station almost by default. It's quiet, soothing and fades in or out by mental will. Good for guests but especially for a quiet day at home – not so good in the car. 4/5
Best: On the Banks of the Old Kishwaukee; Have You Ever Seen Peaches Growing on a Sweet Potato Vine?
Worst: I’m Not Trying to Wake Up.
Verdict: 11/15. It’s certainly worth keeping on the CD shelves. Also, as a paper sleeve it takes up next to no room, helping to make up for all those opera boxes that are incoming…
Ticharu's Review
Personal Experience: I was initially interested in this compilation because I recognised a couple names. Roy Harper and Bert Jansch. I also ran across the extraordinary guitar skills of Gwenifer Raymond through Facebook so my expectation was that I might like a few of these tracks. Surprised that I actually liked most of it. The last few years I've been more and more drawn to the open chord finger pick style. This CD bristles with fine examples, the medium is alive and well.
Resonance: OK, so it doesn't transport me necessarily. Compilation CDs are difficult that way unless it's all music of the thirties or some such. The musicianship is to a high standard and some of it is exceptional 3/5
Design: I address the design under utility but it's basically mission accomplished Mojo Magazine. 4/5
Utility: Listenable as a compilation, that's a feat for modern music, only a couple of tracks I'd skip regularly or just delete. Otherwise as designed, a fine introduction to some worthy artists and great guitarists. Mojo scores. 4/5
Best: "Old Strange" by Steve Gunn -- Of all the wonderful material on this compilation, instantly drawn to this one. Gwenifer Raymond is impressive as well, I mean, anyone who can pick up a guitar and do that. Yes! And what do you know, I really like the 75 Dollar Bill track. It's a jam. I like jams. Not folky at all and it doesn't fit the compilation at all but a great track none the less if somewhat over-long.
Worst: I skipped the Roy Harper and couldn't hang with Michael Chapman either so I guess for me, those are least interesting tracks on the CD.
Conclusion: 11/15. These Mojo discs are generally pretty interesting and they do turn up in charity shops from time to time and people sell them online as well. If you collect them, I can easily recommend this one. What are we listening to next Cecily?
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