Emain The Unknown Land...

A Celtic music pioneer before the term was invented, the Cornishman returns with a mystical album which has inspired by the island of Emain. If all this sounds a bit hippy dippy, then maybe it is. But Jake Walton's spiritualism is firmly rooted in the solid values of the folk singer-songwriter, with a hint of eccentricity to set it apart. There is a gentle warmth and intimacy about his performance and a quietly persuasive storytelling technique that sets the poetry of John Masefield, W.B.Yeats and Walter De La Mer to music alongside his and Eric Liorzou's own original compositions as the story of Emain - "the unknown land" - delicately unfolds.

Jake Walton & Billy Surgeoner... Live...Islington Folk Club 18/1/01

Emain...

For the past decade, Jake Walton has been "off the folk scene", though many will remember his fine collaborations with Jez Lowe. Walton's vocal influence remains Donavan in Celtic dreaminess mode but his stunning guitar and hurdy gurdy playing are in a class all of their own. His song writing is of a very high standard and originals like "The Plains of Silver", with its own intoxicating drone between voices and instrumentation, and the adapted, John Masefield poem "The West Wind" are not exceptions but the rule.

Emain...

After a long absence from the scene, here's a new release from Jake. He's probably best known as former musical partner to Jez Lowe (please reissue 'Two A Roue', somebody!), but lately he's been touring with Bad Penny Billy Surgeoner. Though just to confuse matters, this isn't a duo album with Billy, instead it's (in all but name) a duo album with guitar/mandola player Eric Liorzou. It contains nine original songs ostensibly by Jake (six his settings of others' words, and two to Eric's music) and three instrumental pieces. Now here's a curious thing: I'd been listening for a while before I bothered reading Ralph McTell's box note, where he reminiscences about his own first hearing of Jake as "plainly influenced by Donovan". Well, Jake's voice does - even now - possess some of the expressive and timbral features of Donovan's; it's a piquantly expressive style, with admirably precise diction. However, Jake has an earthier robustness that, combined with the solid mythic imagery of the songs, sidesteps the twee. Jake has a healthy perception and appreciation of the lineage of Celtic tradition that replaces the merely faery with a believable mystic import. Though the musical ambit is predominantly gentle, the depth of content more than compensates, and the impact is greatly satisfying. Jake has an obvious deep and unpretentious sensitivity to his chosen material, with a totally genuine, unforced, inspired response. Eric's finely detailed playing dovetails well with Jake's, and his mandola provides a fetching foil to Jake's elfin hurdy-gurdy on the bright, lively instrumentals. I also liked Mike O'Connor's lyrical fiddle playing on the opening and closing tracks. This is a beautiful, intricately woven tapestry of an album. (Distributed by BMG.)

Emain...

Having recently featured Breton music on Revolutions we at last complete the Celtic "set" by a visit to Cornwall in the company - following a ten-year hiatus - of Jake Walton. And no, he's not John-Boy's younger brother; rather, he's a singer-songwriter of distinctive poetical inclinations. Some of the songs are personal and wholly self-written, such as the wistful title track, while on others he calls upon "lyricists" - after considerably longer inactivity than ten years - such as W.B Yeats, John Masefield and Walter de la Mere. Walton's key collaborator for this comeback album is the Breton guitarist Eric Liorzou and his playing and music are a major contribution to its success. There is throughout a galvanising feeling of movement, of fluidity, and since several of the songs have motion - physical and emotional - as their theme this is hardly accidental. The album's title refers to the land of healing from Irish mythology, the journey to which by King Bran and his followers can be taken to be as much an internal voyage as an external one. More literal journeys lie behind Where My Caravan Has Rested, a popular song of the pre-war era set to Walton's own charming melody, while the passage of man and nature through time is at the heart of the gorgeous closing track, de la Mere's All That's Past. Yeats' "The Celtic Twilight", set to a gossamer tune as Into The Twilight, is as tender and magical as you would expect, while Beyond The Veil, co-written by Liorzou, Walton and his long-time collaborator Jez Lowe, is intense and metaphysical. Part of the intensity comes from Walton's deft playing of the hurdy-gurdy (better known as 70% of the vocabulary of the Swedish Chef on The Muppet Show), a little used instrument these days but one which comes into its own here. The instrumental Seven Gurdies is, unsurprisingly, its finest hour, laying down an atmospheric snowstorm through which Liorzou's mandolas emerge triumphant. This has clearly been an album that needed time to gestate but the patience has been rewarded; let's hope it's not another ten years before a follow-up though.

 

Beverly Folk Festival Review...'Then I just couldn't miss out on Jake Walton and Billy Surgeoner, who despite the 'common' Jez Lowe connection have only just teamed up as a duo; I was really impressed with their easy musicianship, unassuming and natural manner and fine blending of talents- the intricacy of the two guitars, Jake's thoughtful songs (particularly his Yeats settings) and some great tunes where Billy's fiddle or bouzouki perfectly counterpointed Jake's hurdy gurdy. I forecast their impending CD will be an autumn highlight'

 

Keltishe Folksongs Songbook...'This book is a gem. By it from the man himself'

 

Jake and Jez. Live Review...'It is rare to find two musicians who have such empathy as do Walton and Lowe. The audience was completely enveloped in the magic spell they wove with their delightful voices and multi instrumental skills.'

 

Gloaming Grey Album Review...'Totally bewitching.'

 

Gloaming Grey Album Review...'Haunting and totally captivating...also a fine singer, overall so much invention, so much gentle power.'

Two a Roue...

There are so many catch tunes on this album, that it is almost an epidemic, and each is performed with such care and attention, you'll find the entire contents of 'Two a Roue' singing around your head for ages.'

Sunlight and Shade...

'Comes at you not with the senses blazing but with subtle guile. Much in the same way that Robin Williamson has taken the poetic singer-songwriter stance of the sixties a step onward by allying it to Celtic music Walton offers a way forward with intelligent, intricate arrangements and unusual instruments. Walton himself is writing much more these days and here is the most striking advance. Written for a Romany Gipsy, 'Sunlight and Shade' is a song of rare beauty and depth. The criticisms are, in any case swept away by the stunning purity of 'Celtic Benediction'.