Rather than fallow, 'Fallow Alchemy' is bursting with life. Described as a concept about the radical and transformative power of rest and stillness, 'Fallow Alchemy' responds to the natural cycles of the planet.
The natural world needs winter as a fallow period for hibernation – in order for growth and creativity and new life to burst forth. And burst forth is does in musical form – in the guise of traditional folk and shamanic energy.
Think Steeleye Span’s ‘All Around My Hat’ and Fiddler’s Dram having a lovely day, the day they went to Bangor and you get the vibe.
Animals and insects feature throughout – from ‘Daddy Fox’ to the ‘Leatherwing Bat’, to ‘Squirrel is a Pretty Thing’, ‘The Herring Song’, ‘The Hornet and the Beetle’, and ‘The Trawling Trade’ and you get the gist – the natural world is all around us and if we listen very carefully, it’s sings to us all year round, one way or another.
The album had a lengthy gestation of its own – with a creative fallow period giving way to creative bursts of energy. It was only after they succumbed to that fallow period of rest and creative hibernation that the breakthrough came, enabling them both to create work that they could be excited and proud of.
The relationship between the natural world and humankind comes into play – finding inspiration and gathering a sense of wonder from the kingdom of small animals in wild and natural landscapes is reflected in the album cover of the pair among the long grass wearing fox masks.
The award-winning husband and wife duo teamed up with Pete Ord, Bertie Armstrong, Nicola Beazley – the album was recorded at the Studio at Sunbeams in Penrith, and mastered by Stephen Kerrison.
The pair studied and graduated with a degree in Folk & Traditional Music at their native Newcastle, blending influences ranging from old English Ballads to gothic Americana, with spell binding harmonies – resulting in this infectious album with chorus and plenty of singalong opportunities.
This would be great fun live – with lots of audience participation encouraged – it’s certainly an album with plenty of energy and vibrancy.
They may have had a fallow period creatively, but some alchemy was at play as the outcome has a magic chemistry and evocative sound that leaves the listener feeling upbeat and energised.