XXXV: The 35th Anniversary Album by Fairport Convention (2002-02-12)

Actually at the Croepedy Festival this year there will be a special brew by the same name by Wadsworth.Fairport Convention are a bit like the Grateful Dead, you have to see them live to experience this band at full power and I have, in schools, at the Mill in Babnury, at wedding receptions, outdoors and a number of other venues including the Church of the Redeemer, in Morristown, NJ last evening.What has this got to do with the new album you may ask? Indeed you may because they played a lot of songs from the album during the course of the show. Chris Leslie has certainly been accepted into the band and his influence is clear. He is also expanding his role by playing instruments other than the violin, allowing Ric Sanders freedom but maintaining their mutual and counterplay. I must admit to a little sadness here as I have always admired Chris' virtuosity on the violin and the empathy between the two muscians has certainly been an inspiration to them both but he does tend to play less violin today.This particular incarnation of the multifaceted Fairport creature have a new lease on life since the addition of Chris Leslie to the line up. Not only do they have another accomplished musician and vocalist but another songwriter too. These songs are a little different to others but then there are no standard types. Leslie sings in a way reminiscent of Ian Matthews who's contribution to Fairport is often overlooked and while Swarbrick is a tough act to follow both Sanders and Leslie are more than up to the task.I would make a further point about rearranging songs. This band has an awesome repetoire from which to select songs. It is only natural that they may want to rearrange them as the years give us all different perspectives. To me it is a good thing that they may want to change. Joni Mitchell once pointed out that musicians are often called upon to replay crowd favourites and that was there fate. However, she pointed out that the crowd did not require artists like Van Gogh to keep painting the same picture and here's the rub. For a band to reach it's 35th Anniversary life is required not stasis.Long live Fairport Convention. This album is pretty good but see them play the songs live if you can on the last few legs of their East Coast tour, in the UK and the lucky people in California later in the year.

Mainly I would like to respond (again!) to those who will never forgive Fairport Convention for continuing on without Denny, Thompson, and Swarbirck. To invalidate the fine music this band has created over the last 20 years is, to me, frustratingly narrow-minded. I'm really sorry you're personal heroes aren't in the band anymore. Really, I am. But get over it! I love Liege and Leaf, too; but you know what? It's starting to sound horribly dated. The fact is, records (OK, CDs) like "Old, New, Borrowed, Blue", "Jewel on the Crown", "Red and Gold", and "Wood and the Wire" show at LEAST as much depth and musicanship as L&L and FAR more than the dismally recorded "Full House." (Note: the live "House Full" shows how good that particular line up really was.)That said, I must admit XXXV is not up to the Band's usual standards. It's OK..certainly worth having if you are a fan. Still, it sounds like they may have rushed this one a bit. Many of the the performances sound, to me, like the band wasn't quite rehearsed enough to perform them with confidence. "The Banks of the Sweet Primroses" is a good example. The arrangement is pretty much identical to the 1970 version and done with much less energy. What was the point? And "The Deserter" is an excellent song...but do we need another---identical---version?There are moments: "Madeline" and "Neil Gow's Apprentice" rank with Fairport's best, I think. "My Love is in America" is also a fine track. There are others; this is by no means a bad record. I doubt it will win them any new fans, though.And yes, Chris Leslie is no Richard Thompson. But then, Richard Thompson is no Chris Leslie. Metallica is no Bruce Springsteen. And Bruce Sprinsteen is no Tina Turner. What exactly do mindless comparisons indicate about ANY of these artists? Besides, if Chris Leslie sounded just like RT, the detractors would only complain he is merely a pale imitation.If you like Fairport Convention, I think you'll enjoy this record. If you're new to the band, start with something else. "Red and Gold" would be my recommendation.

...and I'll say it again.FAIRPORT RULES!The god-fathers of British folk-rock follow uptheir wonderful THE WOOD AND THE WIREwith a killer release celebrating their 35thyear of brilliance.Chris Leslie doesn't quite dominate XXXVlike he did W&W,but his LIGHT OF DAY isalmost worth buying the whole disc for. Sixminutes of spooky fun,that ends with anawesome violin jam that's been compared toCharlie Daniels' DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA.Chris also contributes THE HAPPY MAN(a comboof 3 Morris dance tunes),the folk-rock rave upTALKING ABOUT MY LOVE,and the ultimate versionof the Richard Thompson/Dave Swarbrick classicNOW BE THANKFUL.Simon Nichol reworks THE DESERTER,(from OLD,NEW,BORROWED,BLUE) Gerry Conway's drumsgive the haunting anti-war ballad a new edge.Violinist Ric Sanders gives us the fiddle jamEVERYTHING BUT THE SKIRL,plus a remakeof PORTMERION(from EXPLETIVE DELIGHTED),with Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson on flute!Not be missed!