HOME SERVICE
A Live Transmission
You want a review of ‘A Live Transmission’ – here you go. ‘Glorious,’ and if you want more than that, will ‘Magnificently Glorious’ suffice?
From the immediacy of the bold, brassy entrance of Napoleon’s Grande March, segueing into the anthemic Walk My Way’, not just a fabulous tune but also a summation of the social inclusivity long associated ‘with Home Service. The vocal delivery immediately dispelling any questions about the wisdom of replacing the emblematic John Tams, as Bob Fox demonstrates all the power and clarity for which he is renowned.
The follow up, ‘Bonny at Morn’, shifts the mood from celebratory togetherness to the haunting magnificence of the introspective appreciation of the delights and challenges of a new born. Not just beautiful in the dawning hours, but a delight at any time.
With guitar/vocalist Graeme Taylor and drummer Michael Gregory the two original members among the 8-piece, a reflection on the seemingly ever changing line-up, the track listing covers the 40 year odd year history of the Albion Band offshoot, to which the genius idea of adding a brass section to a folk-rock band provided their distinctive identity – well that, and the songs. Besides the inclusion of early Taylor instrumental track ‘Bramsley’, as has always been the case, there is a fusion of trad arrs with carefully curated originals – merging Alistair Anderson’s ‘The Road To The North’ with the Bob Fox/Graeme Taylor arrangement of ‘The White Cockade’, or ‘Peat Bog Soldiers’ following Susato’s Rennaisance Dance piece ‘Battle Pavane’, in both cases the standards given a whole new flavour.
It is, of course, not all about the voice. Graeme Taylor, possibly the busiest man in Folk at the moment, adds his not inconsiderable guitar prowess, not only to the current album, but also this year to fine releases from medieval prog folkers, Gryphon and the celebratory Bold Reynold project. However, it will always be the brass section that flavours Home Service and the whole range of feeling they bring – from joyful, through mournful to playful and all points in-between.
Of course, a totally Tams-less Home Service is unthinkable and he is represented, not just in the feel of the album, but in the material itself, with 4 tracks carrying his credit, including his co-written The Old Man’s Song, offered here as a Bob Fox tour de force.
The album nearly draws to a conclusion with a musical triptych of the trad, ‘My Bonny Boy’ Tams’ ‘Scarecrow’ and Andy Findon’s arrangement of ‘The Lark Ascending’, which, having announced that nothing could follow that, the band return with a nod to their Albion Band roots, as they revisit ‘The Battle of The Somme’.
Recorded over three gigs in 2024, and instrumental prowess apart, credit must also go to Paul Smith, soundman on the nights and Graeme Taylor, who in mixing and mastering the album have captured what the sleeve notes refer to as all the emotion and glory of a sound like no other.
Maintaining a band of this size, with members enjoying other commitments cannot be the easiest task for their new manager, but it is to be hoped that, not only will they be gracing festival stages in 2025 – a great choice in the coming absence of both Oysterband and Show of Hands and the presumed unavailability of Bellowhead – but that a visit to a recording studio is in their plans.
Just a reminder: A Live Transmission – ‘Magnificently Glorious’ That is all.
PS – to whoever ‘borrowed’ my copy of ‘Live 1986’ – despite this being a mighty addition to my collection – I would still like it back!!
