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Isambarde[Folk, Trio]
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Isambarde sing and play with a fabulous energy and an amazing array of musical talents. Fiddle, guitar and oboe sustain their voices through a wonderful collection of material. Performing mostly traditional songs, they have carefully selected a repertoire that resonates with the 21st century. | |
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 Isambarde at Redbourne Folk Redbourn Folk Club at The Cricketers, Redbourn on Thu 31st Jan 08 | |
   Throughout England, members of folk clubs gather in the upstairs rooms of pubs to celebrate and preserve the songs and music of England. It is the music that the inhabitants of Lark Rise and Candleford would recognise as their own. The Redbourn Folk Club is typical. Founded thirteen years ago, it extends a warm welcome to its audience in an upstairs room of the Cricketers Public House overlooking Redbourn Common.
First on the carpet are performers from the club, perfection not required, but cheerfulness and audience participation essential. Next on is the support to the main set. Rosa's daughters are Marie Rice and Suzi Zeffert. They introduce themselves as women, who have missed out on gigging whilst bringing up a family, and so are making up for lost opportunities. A duo with lovely harmonies, accompanied by guitar and dulcimer, they performed a song of feminist protest - "Chained to the rails", and the traditional "Caledonia".
The main act was Isambarde, who are young and energetic exponents of English folk rock. They are Chris Green (vocals and guitar) Em Sanders (vocals and fiddle) and Jude Rees (vocals and oboe). Oboe, guitar and fiddle are an unusual folk threesome, but in Isambarde they unite splendidly. Jude's classical training never obstructs her lovely folk tunes. Em's voice is haunting and her fiddle playing is devilish. Chris' forceful guitar and his warm vocals drive the set forward.
Their repertoire is extensive and growing ready for their third album. A mix of traditional ballads, contemporary roots songs and self-penned lyrics were on offer. Isambarde's choice of songs mixed bawdy humour with offerings on sex, drink and rebellion. And Isambarde were brave to take on one of the signature songs of contemporary folk. Sandy Denny is the benchmark by which female folk singers are often judged, and her performance of Richard Thompson's "Farewell, Farewell" a classic. As Em's voice caressed the lyrics and Jude's oboe flaunted the melody, customers climbed the stairs from the downstairs bar to listen. "Bloody fantastic," exclaimed one, before retreating in embarrassment.
The lewd humour of My Thing is my Own, a seventeenth century tale of a young woman's refusal to succumb to a variety of young men, was memorable for its ingenious play on words. "Private Green", Chris' lament for war veterans, who were promised a land fit for heroes and ended up on the dole, has resonance today. Unlike their contemporary 'chick lit' sisters, folk heroines often end the song deserted or dead. It appears that Jude and Em dislike this trend since they performed two songs where the woman comes out on top with obvious relish; "Maid on the Shore", in which the heroine tempts a ship's captain with the offer of her virginity, but robs him and escapes before he claims her, and "Outlandish Knight", in which a lady traps a serial killer and drowns him.
The joy and humour of Isambarde's lively performance made it a pleasure to venture out on a cold winter night. | |
| Bill Dodds, Sun 9th Mar 08 | |
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| Page last updated 11 March 08, gig/event details last updated 1 December 07. |
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| Page first created on Lemonrock 1 December 07. |  |
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