Link to Living Tradition Homepage

REVIEW FROM www.livingtradition.co.uk

 


 

 

 
NICK WYKE & BECKI DRISCOLL - Cold Light 

NICK WYKE & BECKI DRISCOLL - Cold Light 
English Fiddle ENGLISHFIDDLECD04 

The fifth full-length album release from Nick and Becki sees the Devon-based fiddle duo expanding their repertoire even further beyond the literal limitations or implications of the term “English fiddle music”, in a self-confessed “joyful collision” of traditional music and contemporary bowed strings. Cold Light finds their ever-developing combined skills and musicianship in the studio company of seven fellow-musicians, yet without any sense of overload and retaining their own core identity, all the while naturally absorbing and expressing a typically dazzling array of styles and influences.

Nick and Becki have always been noted for their innovative take on English folk – best described as globally aware – and Cold Light is the most all-embracing demonstration yet of the intrinsic coherence of their musical philosophy. It contains eight instrumental tracks and five songs, a mix which provides ample evidence of the breadth of Nick and Becki’s talents outwith the “exceptional fiddle players” tag. Between them adding viola, piano, lyre, guitar, mandolin, bass and percussion at selective points, there’s also their stature as impressive individual singers – and indeed, songwriters. Four of the disc’s highlights are self-penned songs – Becki’s reflection on the issue of historic abuse (Halo) and her stark exposition of the power of the sea (Winter), complementing Nick’s exploration of the desperation of addiction (Who’s Crying Now?) and his poignant war-themed Last Waltz Of The Evening.

Not to underplay the impact of the instrumental tracks though – pick of these are the disc’s scintillating bookends (Knitting Reel and Boscastle Breakdown), the scenic Three Bridges, the animated pair of hornpipes and the fetching classical-into-Latin hybrid take on La Folia.

All sound too good to be true? Well believe me, this is one of the most coherent satisfyingly eclectic offerings I’ve heard this year.

www.englishfiddle.com

David Kidman

 

This review appeared in Issue 132 of The Living Tradition magazine