Knock at the Knocker, Ring at the Bell

Six for Gold

'Their sixth CD follows what's become a familiar pattern: inventive arrangements of traditional songs (often unusual per se or in unusual versions) and interesting source notes - an approach they carry off extremely well, producing what's quite possibly their strongest set to date. It's probably to the good that they don't possess a lone superstar vocalist, they achieve much more variety by sharing the duties around differing permutations of the six of them. Again, everyone contributes something worthwhile to the musical side, although Andy Turner's concertina and Sophie Polhill's cello rate a special mention. 

The crisply rhythmic Jovial Cutler is calculated to lift the spirits and morphs very neatly into the Morris tune Old Molly Oxford. They also have a very nice version, with massed vocals, of Pete Coe's Juniper Gentle And Rosemary, while the orchestration of Foggy Dew builds subtly and effectively and they do a great job with the carol Lazarus. Elsewhere there's material from tune books, broadsides, the Coppers, Joseph Taylor, Scan Tester and other mainstays of the English tradition.'
Nick Beale, fRoots

'Perfumed with imagination and skill. The imagination comes in the arrangements, which back but never overwhelm the singing. Indeed, in songs like 'A begging I will go' and 'Once I was a shepherd boy' they positively bounce the vocal along. The singers uphold the Beautiful Jo tradition of expressing the song clearly, without affectation or histrionics. The songs are beautiful. These six Magpies have brought us a touch of gold.'  
Roy Harris, Taplas

'Carefully chosen material, meticulously arranged and honed to perfection... Familiar songs have been revitalised and given a new burst of energy either through original arrangements - 'A Begging I will Go' - or full blooded chorus singing - 'The Constant Lovers'. 72 minutes of quality music'
Folk London

'release consistently good albums of English songs and music'
Mike Harding, Radio 2

'There can be few bands blessed with such fine singers, subtlety of accompaniment, rich mixing of diverse instrumental tones. Notable is the new maturity of Benji Kirkpatrick's guitar work. This album is a joy from start to finish. The sound is definitely English traditional, but such a beautiful example comes along all too seldom. Andy Turner, one of the most overlooked tenors and concertina players in England, provides wonderful harmony vocals with Ian Giles. Also unusual to find are a pair of confident female voices to complement them. Marguerite Hutchinson and Sophie Polhill not only match each other and the men vocally; the start of Around the Maypole/Asiatic brought a thrill I haven't had since recording with the Mellstock band 10 years ago. Sophie's cello is the perfect foil to Matt Green's fiddle playing, which grows in stature with every recording. I was impressed by her opening to A-Begging I Will Go, where the band tastefully use the dance tune Grimstock as linking motif. Marguerite also manages to blend in various whistles, a trick most bands can't carry off.

The choice of material is excellent, and the combining of tunes is sensitive and effective. There are some of my favourite songs and tunes here - The Constant Lovers (have all my favourite bands recorded that this year?), Long Peggin’ Awl (nice to hear Benji singing), Bold William Taylor, Argeers, etc.

The rhythmic backing from Benji and Ian is first class throughout. I loved the way they chose to end the album; they put it all together on one track - fine vocal lead, great chorus singing, growling raunchy instruments - so the first thing you want to do when the track ends is to play the whole CD again.

Just to let readers know that I do listen critically, even to a great album like this, I'd include one quibble - there's a cuteness to some female vocals that doesn't always gel with the otherwise very English sound. But that's not a reason to miss out on this CD. It's beautifully recorded and presented, with informative notes. You want this one in your collection, I promise.'            
Flos Headford, Shreds & Patches  

Class act; solid album. Magpie Lane are a group from the Oxford area giving lush deep harmonies and quality instrumental arrangements from talented and experienced musicians. lan Giles' voice is wonderful - rich and warm, and in Andy Turner they have surely one of the most graceful of anglo concertina players. Mat Green is one of the finest fiddlers in the English style; Marguerite Hutchinson and Sophie Polhill, relatively recent additions to the group, have strong, sensitive and accurate voices, and contribute wind and cello to the sound, and Benji Kirkpatrick binds it all together. That is some line-up. Six musicians; the Sixth Magpie Lane album; and, as the rhyme on the back cover says, '…Five for Silver, Six for Gold…’

The album contains sixteen tracks: three tune sets, and thirteen songs. All members get to lead at least one number, except Mat Green, and it is a great showcase for the variety yet coherence of the styles of those voices. And the full, six-voice harmony gives the whole its signature. It's good stuff.
Barry Callaghan, English Dance & Song

Magpie Lane are a sextet from Oxfordshire with a slew of wonderful albums under their collective belts. You couldn't ask for a warmer, more vibrant sound; they truly give life to English country music. As the group incorporates a cello for some effective bottom, as well as recorders, it is not hard to envision the group as the sort of country dance purveyors that one might find in a staid drawing room. Thankfully, however, the Magpies dispel that assumption quickly. By comparison to classical groups that mine traditional English country songs (like the Baltimore Consort, or the Revels groups), the Magpie Lane approach lets the songs and tunes breathe and bloom in all their native wildness.
I have long admired the selection of tunes that grace each Magpie Lane record, as they usually find songs that are somewhat startling (on their excellent Christmas CD Wassail, for example, they offered a tale of a foxhunt from the perspective of the doomed fox). On Six for Gold, the songs this time around are more familiar, such as "John Reilly", "A-Begging I Will Go," and "The Constant Lovers." But Magpie Lane do not disappoint, because the vocal performances are nothing less than a treat. Ian Giles' voice is warm, and the man never overwhelms a song. Plus, this is one ensemble that enjoys sharing the singing: nearly everyone gets the spotlight, and all join in for harmonizing. Magpie Lane also boast not one wonderful female voice, but two: the twin threat of Marguerite Hutchinson and Sophie Polhill practically turn the group into the Steeleye Span of the country set. Sophie's treatment of "John Reilly" gets high marks for her sweet, clear singing. Pete Coe taught the Magpies "Juniper Gentle and Rosemary," Marguerite's lead being stunningly fleshed out by all.
It's great to see young Benji Kirkpatrick in the band, contributing both bouzouki and guitar work, and tying Magpie Lane to the groundbreaking work of John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris. But the whole group plays with such sensitivity that they are now setting the bar in the realm of traditional interpretation. Mat Green's fiddle work and Andy Turner's concertina wizardry adds further spit and polish, making this a great country dance music set for dancing and not just armchair listening. It all comes together on "My Old Hat That I Got On," with its use of three different dance tunes and "All for me grog" chorus. With Six For Gold, Magpie Lane has surpassed itself, trolling about their English heritage with relish and genuine delight.
Lee Blackstone, RootsWorld

earlier CDs

‘The band obviously have a real love for their material. The songs and tunes are played with great gusto and the acapella numbers are note-perfect. The enthusiasm is infectious and I found myself, at the end of side two, wanting to play the whole album again.’
Wayne Stote, Rock ‘n’ Reel magazine.

‘The music and songs are all performed with a deep respect for the material, retaining the traditional flavour completely ... Will prove a delight to lovers of traditional English music and song,’
Folkwrite magazine

‘If there were a pub session in heaven, it would sound like this.'
Sing Out!

‘I sometimes wonder what a foreigner’s (even your average Englishman’s) idea is of English music. I think if Magpie Lane travelled as ambassadors of our music and song they really couldn't be bettered for a lively interpretation which respects the tradition.’
Rod Harrington, Radio Somerset Sound

‘Well performed and programmed and accessible without compromising what made the music special in the first place.’
Nick Beale, Folk Roots

‘Should a Guatemalan musicologist stop you in the street in the next few days and ask you to define the essence of English Folk Music, save yourself a great deal of breath, keep your mouth firmly closed and just give him this album... The playing of this seven piece band, accompanied by friends who include Chris Leslie, is flawless... This is a collection to warm the heart.’
Jon Sims, Folk on Tap magazine.

'well researched, well played, well sung and well produced. What more could you ask for?'
Lars Nilsson, Green Man Review

'To capture the spirit of wassailing, try Wassail! - a Country Christmas by Magpie Lane, absolutely the most splendid performers of English traditional music'.'
Wassail website

'For rural English Christmas traditions, the best album of the season is Magpie Lane's Wassail! A Country Christmas [Beautiful Jo BEJOCD-8 (1995)]. A seven-piece acoustic folk band that features all manner of voices and instruments - concertina, flute, recorder, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, pipe and tabor, cello, and more, Magpie Lane perform a wide selection of Christmas carols, wassails and dance tunes. Many of the selections are quite unusual - clearly, they enjoy researching some of England's out-of- the-way folk songs. One outstanding and uncommon song on the disc is the lament of gardeners, who were always frozen out of work in wintertime. Another, better known lament commemorates a flock of sheep that was smothered beneath a heavy snowstorm in the Isle of Man. The spooky story of "Herod and the Cock," the ominous ballad of the "Standing Stones," and a humorous eighteenth century satire called "Stuff your Guts," along with several generally cheerful wassails and jaunty dance tunes, make for a great mix of moods. Instruments are handled tastefully and deftly, with lots of nice guitar playing and guest fiddling by Chris Leslie.'
Steve Winick, Dirty Linen #67