Review: 'The Hearth and the Hive', by Talis Kimberley

[fleetfootmike]

[Declaration of Interest: I played guitar on Talis' previous album, and the drum and percussion tracks for this one were recorded at the Mill House. Other than that? I had nothing to do with this, chief :D]

Initial impressions: /nice/ packaging - no jewel case, just a nice gatefold card (I'm assuming it's recycled, since... heck, why would it NOT be?) sleeve with full colour inside and out, and a lyric booklet as well. Minor nitpick that the inside credits are a tad hard to read, but the cover (in the style of a cross-stitch sampler) looks fantastic.

As for the album? Very clean and forward production - Talis' voice is clear, the guitar and bouzouki do their job beautifully (but let's face it, they're not the meat of what you're listening to this album for!), the other instruments (bass, oboe, bassoon, 'cello, whistle, recorder, squeezebox (synth?)) are dotted through the tracks to add a sweetening and leavening of tone colour and melody where needed. Sounds great, not fatiguing to listen to.

What you /are/ listening to this for, let's face it, are the lyrics (which incidentally can be found at http://www.talis.net/songs.htm). But... having said that... the arrangements are there to set off the lyrics. And they do it damn well.

Kitchen Heroes

In which Talis sets her stall out. Sounds of battle and the thunder of hooves twist into a lyrical oboe line, in much the same way that Talis turns the heroes of the battle into the unsung heroes of the aftermath. This is the title track (in my favourite way, that of pulling a lyric out of a song to use as the title!), setting out the challenge: what basic survival tasks /do/ you know how to do when there's no-one else around to do it?

Cassandra

Gorgeous opening fingerpicked guitar line, before subtle bass and drums kick in. Catchy and yet chilling with great use of sound effects - my one pickiness? I'd have recorded the spoken bits with the effects already playing and LOUD: Talis' voice doesn't sound like she's struggling over the fall of 'Troy'. Oh, and the Morse code is cool!

Jonathan's Coffeehouse

Cheery, almost whimsical, and I love the squeezebox! Lyrical hints of a mix of Erica Neely's "Bardic Corps" and Little Johnny England's "Welcome To The Sparrow Club", with some great whistle playing. Not sure about the sound effect at the end.

Time and Tide

A simple (if such things ever exist) love story. Gorgeous. There was once a girl...

When I Was A Mermaid

Cello and bassoon open this one - haunting and eerie. In fact, they provide the sole backing all the way through. It could be a traditional folk song: love the arrangement.

Ladybird Year

Follows on out of the previous track with a bassoon line that starts off in the same key before you realise it's shifted to the major. Guitar, bass and subtle drums and percussion, love the way it builds and the interlocking backing vocals.

In a way, though, the last couple of tracks have been kind of a (very pleasant) interlude. From here on in, pay attention, damnit: it matters. Here comes the real meat.

Jam Tomorrow

Or the jam, perhaps. A look (to a bouncy, almost mischevious backing) at the evils of futures trading, and the onset of peak oil

My Lady Of The Underpass

Wow. Not.. specifically... about the same things as most of the rest of the album. But it fits so perfectly. And the 'cello is to die for.

Vitruvian Man

NOW I know why there was sawdust all over the studio floor :D More bouncy uptempo piano mischief with a great drum and wacky percussion track, and another reminder of the things we'd do well to remember how to do.

Wolf At Your Door

Love the growl in Talis' voice on this one: the same bouncy swing combo that's all over Vitruvian Man, and a delightfully schizophrenic lyric (not to mention a brief guest appearance). Just how close /is/ that wolf?

World's End

Very close, in this song. Chillingly, icily, beautiful, from the brittle guitar tone to the bare, wintery backing vocals.

Blackthorn Winter

Another of Talis' wonderfully anonymous yet fleshed-out characters, and a gorgeous guitar playout into the promise of spring.

Buy it. You know you want to. http://www.talis.net/

Comments

[keristor.livejournal.com]

I already did, at the con (I unremember if it was before or after the set, whenever I saw her I and she had some to sell).

My general impression was about it being very clean, non-fussy and natural. I must admit that my favourite part is the "guest appearance", I wait for that in the song, but really I'm hard pushed to pick favourite tracks. I love the way she sings cheerfully about all the terrible things...

[maverick-weirdo.livejournal.com]

I'll be buying it in June when she comes to DucKon

Hearth and the Hive

[sexybass.livejournal.com]

I loved the fact that the vocals were clean and the CD not overly produced. I have a hard time picking out my favourites as well but My Lady of the Underpass and Blackthorn Winter rank right up there. We had a little trouble reading the credits as well inside but a minor nit pick. Great vocals, nice guitar work nice percussion nice bass work and the backing instrumentation was tasteful and well done I thought. Cheers to all who had a hand in this excellent CD and big hugs to the lady herself. We will see her at Duckon and what a party it will be!!!

[catalana.livejournal.com]

This review made so much more sense when I stopped reading one of the songs as "My Lady of the Underpants."

[talis-kimberley.livejournal.com]

*Blows kiss*

Thank you, Mike, for the review! It's thoughtful and detailed, and I really value your feedback. I'm utterly delighted that you 'get' so many of the details I had such fun including! You do me great honour. I'll give you your nitpicks - yes, OK - I've learned a few things from this project which I'll take forward to the next one.

This is, btw, the Hearth and the Hive's first full review. For which I also thank you. I'd like to link to this post from my own blog, if I may.

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

Do feel free :)

[vaurien.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the review, Mike. I'm bouncing with pride at being part of this project.
I'll just casually mention that it's bassoon and not oboe on both Mermaid and Ladybird year. Yes it really can play that high! It's oboe on Kitchen Heroes exactly as you said, though.

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

Fixed :D

[stevieannie.livejournal.com]

Not so much "in the style of a sampler", as an actual sampler, actually stitched by the good lady and others. I think I did the bottom couple of lines of the beehive!

[little-cinnamon.livejournal.com]

I think I did a bit of beehive, too! :)

[stevieannie.livejournal.com]

So, in the interests of statistical thingummies... What do *you* think "Time and Tide" is about, Mike?

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

I'm quite happy to treat it as a simple lovesong, but, knowing Talis and reading the notes, I'm sure it isn't.

:D