Two Guitars And A Song
Reviewed by David Kidman October 2005
Copper Kettle is a well-regarded Yorkshire
(Dewsbury-based) duo consisting of Michael Forsyth and Brian Firth, and
this is their second CD release. Like their first, Kettle's On, it's as
much a showcase for Michael's beautiful, sensitive self-penned songs as
for the duo's equally sensitive and distinctively gentle style of
performance. This time round, their signature unpretentious, mellifluous
and nicely unobtrusive twin-acoustic-guitar accompaniment is boosted on
many of the 14 tracks by some well-judged (and thankfully not overdone)
keyboard and bass playing courtesy of the album's producer/mixer/editor
Pete Earnshaw. So as you can see, the CD's
title is probably more representative of Copper Kettle's live act! The
internal balance on individual songs varies between – for the most part –
excellent (extremely clear, as on A Farmer's Plight and I Didn't Want To
Go To War) and very good if just a little opaque (Farewell To The Sea). If
you've seen Copper Kettle live, you'll know how their performance can cast
a unique spell (even if some nuances and subtle vocal shadings can get
lost occasionally in the sheer consistency of pace or mood). Michael's
songwriting is steeped in compassion and
understanding for and of his fellow human beings and shot through with an
attractive, reflective yet unsentimental nostalgia; his songs make a
considerable impact through words and melody, notwithstanding his knack of
creating catchy and memorable choruses for many of them. In both respects
his writing can be seen to have a certain kinship with that of Alan Bell,
I feel, and especially so in the embracing of simple pleasures and genuine
honest human values expressed with a sense of "folky
craftsmanship" that in these cutting-edge days is often viewed (even
unfairly disparaged) as old-fashioned, even outmoded – but this kind of
writing still has a place in folks' affections, and very probably always
will have. A slight drawback for some might be that the vast majority of
the songs are uniformly medium-paced, although the lads are to be given
credit for having learnt from Album Number One and doing their utmost here
to mitigate any feeling of inevitable homogeneity through varying the
accompaniments and alternating vocal leads – gambits which by and large
work well. Each of the lads has a special gift as regards vocal delivery –
whilst Michael's is the more natural "folk" type voice, Brian's superbly
controlled vibrato-rich tenor is possibly more reminiscent of the art-song
or light-operetta genre than the folk world, and yet each singer conveys
the essence of the song quite expertly. My overall feeling is that to
arrange to savour each song individually (rather than playing the entire
63 minutes in one sitting) is to get the best of the softly simmering
Copper Kettle brew; I'd recommend you do so at leisure, for this is a
lovely collection of songs well sung, that if anything prove even more
persuasive than the duo's live renditions. And the CD's very
well-presented too, with booklet containing full lyrics.
(Available from
www.copperkettlefolk.com or 29 Taylor Hall Lane,
Mirfield WF14 0HW.)
The Folk Mag
Review
by Dave
Emery
Formed 30 years ago as a
trio singing mainly Irish songs, Copper Kettle has consisted since 1990 of
the Yorkshire-based duo, Brian Firth and founder member, Michael Forsyth.
'Two Guitars and A Song' consists of fourteen songs showcasing Michael’s
excellent song writing talents. The album can best be
described as easy listening folk, with glimpses of their early Irish
influences. Their songs are gentle and nostalgic but occasionally thought
provoking. They are delivered in a straightforward style, beautifully sung
and quietly accompanied, mainly by Brian’s guitar and Michael’s mandolin
with the assistance of guest artist, Peter Earnshaw.
My personal favourite
track is undoubtedly The Peace Between the Wars, a gentle, sing-along,
look back at the plight of evacuees during the Second World War. This is a
song that will strike a strong resonance amongst an older generation of
folkies but one that can be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates a good song;
it deserves to become a folk standard. Also a highlight is A Sixties
Anthem, another nostalgic look back, this time at the days of flower
power, Norma Jean, Harold Wilson, space flight and just about everything
sixties.
If you prefer your music
strident and hard-hitting, this is not an album for you. On the other
hand, if you prefer your songs sensitive, unfussy and gently delivered,
you’ll enjoy this record.
Dave Emery
(The Folk Mag)
Two Guitars and a Song
by David Jones for Folk North West (Spring Edition 2006)
Brian Firth and Michael Forsyth aka Copper Kettle hail from Mirfield in
West Yorkshire, this is the first time I've heard them and it struck me
immediately how much like Foster and Allen they sounded. Michael writes
their material which covers many and diverse subjects.
The cut in fish quotas has a lot to answer for, decimating our fishing
industry beyond repair, once the sea is in your blood it's there for life,
a highly thought producing song "Farewell To The Sea". Perhaps a fairytale
setting in
the mind, but no, this place really exists in Eire, "Castle" was once home
to the Guinness dynasty. They say that if you can remember the sixties
then you weren't really there, but to blame that particular decade for the
current ills of the world seems to me to be more than a little far
fetched.
"A Farmers Plight" was brought to the fore during the foot and mouth
outbreak. Many farms went to the wall as the heart was torn out of the
industry, I fear it will never return. Cowardice was deemed to be 'beyond
the pail' during the First World War and many squaddies were executed as
a result. The futility of it all is spelled out in "I Didn't Want To Go To
War".
Children around the world have been exploited and forced to work in
terrible conditions for a pittance for the past 150 years. Will this
exploitation ever be eradicated? I fear not. "Children Of The World"
explains. "The Stranger" tells of a chance meeting between two
people and what the conversation might have been if a word between them
had been spoken.
So many marriages and relationships break down. "Boulevard of Broken
Dreams" tells of the regret that nearly always accompanies such events. In
private moments we all reflect on the state of the world. "Have You Ever
Wondered" is one persons innermost thoughts about what is happening to our
planet. Leaving friends and family behind to work away from home is tough
for many people and "Away From Home" deals with the problems being away
from home creates. Private Horace Waller was awarded a posthumous VC. He was
"A Yorkshire Lad" and a very brave one at that.
Two weeks a year was once all the holiday people were given or could indeed
afford 50 years ago. Many spent the time at the seaside either in the sea
or simply walking along "The Shore". "In This World" deals with the
most distressing of all ills, Alzheimer's disease. There but for the
grace of God....... During World War II so many children were
evacuated. For many it was a time for exploration and coming to terms with
the reality of life, for others it was a stressful time, as they missed
home and family. "The Peace Between The Wars" is the poignant final track.
Overall the sound was pleasant but something kept nagging at me.
Eventually I realised that apart from the two guitars and the two voices
and a little extra guest musicianship the album for me was over produced
on both instruments and voice, which was a pity because the material
deserved to be heard in its unfettered state, free from artificial
additives. Copper Kettle are obviously a duo with vast experience
and a night in their company either live or on CD would certainly leave
you with food for thought.
David Jones (Folk North West)
