THE OUTLANDISH COLLECTION EP - KADIA
LCM ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Release Date: 28th April, 2017
Genre: Folk, Acoustic
Band: Lee Cuff (cello, vocals, double bass and piano), Chris Bailey (guitars, vocals, accordion) and David Hoyland (mandolin, percussion, vocals)
Location: Bournemouth, UK
Record Label: Kadia (Independent)
Tracks: 5
It would be far to say that Kadia are rapidly gaining a great reputation on the UK Folk circuit. Multi talented with a flair for creating excellent music, both traditional and contemporary. Their debut album 'East Of Alexander' was critically acclaimed and their new EP 'The Outlandish Collection' builds on that success. The EP comprises of traditional songs and a set of instrumentals which were collected during the period of recording their debut album. If you have seen Kadia before, many of these songs are currently being played in their live sets. All the tracks have a long and rich history and have existed in different guises and under many different names. The EP title comes an older variant of 'Lady Isabel & the Elf Knight' called 'The Outlandish Knight'. The EP also provides a great taster of the rich and wonderful music in store from the band....and long may it continue.
All the tracks are arranged, performance, recorded and produced by Kadia at the Blue Room in Dorset.
With Chris taking the lead vocals the EP begins with the toe-tapping 'Captain Ward' (likely Jack Ward) a tale of the royal 'Rainbow' and piracy on the high seas. Jack Ward was a Muslim English pirate around the turn of the 17th century who later became a Barbary Corsair operating out of Tunis during the early 17th century. As all true folk songs should have, it has a very high death count on par with a Quentin Tarantino movie. The song tells the story of the King sending a ship, the royal 'Rainbow', after pirate Captain Ward. The ship carries 1,300 men. Captain Ward subsequently defeats the Rainbow and sends taunts back to the king, "If he reign king of all the dry land, I will reign king at sea". Some excellent arrangements and audience participation . It's high energy this is always a live favourite. For folk connoisseurs it is also Child ballad #287.
Showcasing Kadia's musicianship and flair the "Cricketers Set" is a collection of three instrumentals: Cooley's Reel, St. Anne's Reel and King Of The Fairies
With Lee taking lead vocals 'Lady Isabel & The Elf Knight' (Child #4 and Roud #21) tells the tale of a young woman who elopes with an evil and serial killer knight who has promised to marry her, but who then tries to murder her to get money, cloths and horses. By a quick-witted ruse she manages to kill him instead. A happy "folk" ending and an unusual one as the maiden wins out.....but not for the murderous and treacherous 'outlandish' knight, who gets his comeuppance.
The hunting song "The Keeper" was originally collected by Cecil Sharp from Robert Kinchin at Ilmington, Warwickshire in 1909 and appears in the 1974 edition of Cecil Sharp's Collection Of English Folk Songs, Volume II, which was edited by Maud Karpeles. It is also Roud 1519. This song is in folk terms equivalent to a "Carry On" movie. Full of sexual innuendos and double meanings. It's really one long metaphor. Postcards please to EFDSS, Cecil Sharp House, Camden ;)
The EP closes with a capstan shanty 'Randy Dandy'. With its mentions of heading down the Hill, round the Horn and up to Valippo Bay, This shanty was originally heard mainly aboard the old 'Cape Horners'. The song has a new arrangement written specially for the new EP. Wonderful harmonies underpinned with some fine mandolin playing from David. "Heave a pawl, oh, heave away. Way, hay, roll and go! The anchor's on board an' the cable's all stored. To my rollicking randy dandy O! [Folky fact: The east coast of South America from Cape Horn past Argentina and Brazil to the Amazon was often referred to by sailors as "the Hill".]