Album Reviews
‘Nine Trees’ by Tinkerscuss - fey folk with fire (February 28, 2010)
There’s a growing force in folk
that’s steadily developed in the South-West. That force is Tinkerscuss - the
duo that was Bryony and Erin Holden and is now a trio with Kathryn Wheeler.
Their first album as a trio is ‘Nine Trees’ an eclectic mix of self-penned and
traditional songs that explore nature, mystery and humanity, ancient past and foggy
future. Each song fits into the whole as the trees fit the forest and the grass
the meadow. This is fey folk with fire.
The emotive ‘Highland Widows Lament’ opens and for
those that know the Tinkerscuss
 style with Bryony’s evocative voice and Erin’s
strings it’s immediately familiar ground, now with added accordion, viola and violin
from Kathryn. They also use the melodious Cornish (Kerwenek) and Gaelic
languages to add extra edge. ‘Meriasek’ by Neil Kennedy, is a gentle song
delivered in Kerwenek - a direct descendant of the old language spoken by the pre-
Roman Celtic inhabitants of Cornwall (Kernow).
Sung in the Gaelic ‘Duisg Mo Chridhe’ and ‘Hi O He’ by Fiona and Eilidh McKenzie
are both treated beautifully with delicious strings and harmonies.
Tinkerscuss blend in several of their perceptive,
inquisitive originals. ‘Birken’ is a finely crafted tune with
enthralling accordion accents while faintly worrying ghostly whisperings add to
the whole. They lay the same care on the title track ‘Nine Trees’ (The Balefire
Song) – a beautiful story to glorify the natural wisdom of the seasons. ‘The
Selkie Mother’ is their take on an old legend which Tinkerscuss have crafted
into an exquisite song.
‘Nine Trees’ stays with you from the first hearing.
It sheds a pale light on the far dark side of mystical while exploring
the wild reaches of nature’s cyclic death and resurgence. Bryony
and Erin clearly remain on the musical journey they began years ago, and with
the added skills of Kathryn continue to head for the far shores they always
sought to explore.
Buy this you’ll love it. And when you do, along with the package you'll also get a lovingly designed CD and booklet.
Tinkerscuss are: Bryony Holden (vocals, 16-string
Gothic harp, Indian shruti box) Erin Holden (Martin guitars, Fylde octave
mandola) and Kathryn Wheeler (accordion, viola, violin, and vocals).
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