| |
Now RGF proudly presents 'Ladders Of
Daylight', which will certainly delight established admirers, and
(if given a fair hearing by press and radio) should attract a small
army of newcomers to the rare delicacy of Patty’s world-class voice
exploring a fresh treasure trove of songs by ALAN. A number of
notable guests appear on 'Ladders Of Daylight', but before we
introduce them, please inspect the album's remarkable front cover
illustration by the extraordinary JOHN HOLDER, whose work has for
many years graced the posters and programmes of the Cambridge Folk
Festival. When he saw and heard this uniquely enjoyable act, JOHN
volunteered to originate one of his creations for this second album,
for which we thank him (and would like a pint of what he's
drinking).
PATTY & ALAN have played in front of
a variety of audiences since 'Will' emerged in 1995: several folk
clubs (mainly in and around London), such festivals as Aldeburgh,
Haddenham, Saffron Walden and Salisbury, and a number of support
slots for RALPH McTELL, who has been gracious in his praise and
generosity. Because the third founder member of the VETTA/FRANKS
team, the exotic Charlotte Moore, was unavailable for many of the
RALPH shows, singer/guitarist REG MEUROSS volunteered to be
Charlotte, and while undeniably short in the exotic stakes, not only
replicated her vocal harmonies but also added instrumental weight to
the expert bass work of TONY HARRIS, who has so lovingly engineered
both 'Will' and 'Ladders Of Daylight'.
REG bonded so well with PATTY & ALAN
that he was invited to appear on 'Ladders', and even sings lead on
'The End Of The Line', a song which some may equate in terms of its
subject matter with ‘Meet On The Ledge’, the famous epic that is
regarded as FAIRPORT CONVENTION's signature tune. Which brings us to
another guest, CHRIS LESLIE, the newest member of the FAIRPORT
family, who chose to record 'Wishfulness Waltz', one of the great
ALAN FRANKS songs on 'Will', as one of his lead vocal contributions
to the excellent 1997 FAIRPORT album, 'Who Knows Where The Time
Goes'. Everyone was ecstatic when CHRIS agreed to apply his inspired
violin playing to five of the songs on 'Ladders Of Daylight', and in
particular the breathtaking title track.
Among the other guests who
contributed to the album are JULIAN DAWSON, who happened to come
along with REG, and added trademark harmonica to 'Getting Restless',
and PATTY's longtime chum, PETE SAYERS, who appears on autoharp and
dobro. What makes 'Ladders Of Daylight' an even more unlikely feat
is that it has been created while ALAN has continued his "day job"
as a feature writer for 'The Times', and while PATTY has become a
successful goat breeder, as well as working as a noted session
vocalist both live and in the studio. PATTY also produced 'Ladders
Of Daylight', which was recorded in Great Chishill, Herts.
|
|
