Irish/Scottish/English Folk: Kate Rusby's The Girl Who Couldn't Fly

What John Wesley Harding accomplished with Trad Arr Jones, Kate Rusby matches at points on her album, The Girl Who Couldn’t Fly, which could be called Trad Arr Rusby. Rusby takes some traditional tunes, lending the strong Gaelic air of her voice to old stories in old words. Along with producer/co-arranger John McCusker, plus a great set of musicians, Rusby’s guitar picks up these traditional tunes with a bright, dusted-off energy. The traditiona words of the lament for “Mary Blaize” gets a pub dance rhythm in Rusby’s music which has hints of the shared rhythms of mariachi.

Elsewhere, though, The Girl… could be called Rusby Arr Rusby. Her own tunes achieve the same traditional feeling without feeling like she’s putting on airs, leaving an album that’s cohesive even as the tracks go back and forth between traditional and original tunes. Rusby seems to be in touch with the voices of the past as she sings with her own voice. It’s a voice of longing, beauty, and pounding heart, such as on “No Name,” which builds as Rusby sings. Like reaching the crest of a ridge while hiking, experiencing a rush of emotion as you’re about to look out over the valley. What give you the panoramic view from the top of “No Name” is when Roddy Woomble’s voice enters. Change in timbre, clarifying the passion, like punctuation on Rusby’s tremendous sentence. It’s Rusby Arr Rusby, a song arranged to break open the emotional power.

Thanks to Kate Rusby, Compass Records, and Pure Records for the review copy.

Greentrax Tradition
If you’re interested in hearing how other artists are finding ways to communicate through the traditional while still hearing the music of today’s streets, check out the releases on Greentrax Recordings of Scotland. While offering predominately traditional Scottish tunes, the artists keep that history alive in a music world very much focused on the new, now, and what will be gone in two minutes. For instance, the quartet of fiddles that forms the center of Fiddler’s Bid enlivens old songs on their Naked & Bare (2005) while also strumming out the rhythms of life just past the turn into the 21st century.

A few Greentrax releases are available in the Music Spectrum Giveaway Closet if requested. See the Sidebar for info on how to get your FREE CDs.

Thanks to Greentrax Recordings for their support of Music Spectrum.