Though (rightly) highly regarded as a solo singer of great stature, character and accomplishment who’s already chalked up a distinguished half-century of performing history on the folk scene (and indeed beyond), Maddy Prior’s always also enjoyed collaborating with fellow singers and musicians, whether in duo format (initially with Tim Hart, later with June Tabor) or group context (Steeleye Span, The Carnival Band) or several points in between. Of which the most memorable have been The Girls (where she was joined by Abbie Lathe and her own daughter Rose) and latterly, the eponymous trio with Hannah James and Giles Lewin, who together released a stunning and world-embracing album (3 For Joy) six years ago in 2012.
That album’s followup has thus been long awaited, and here it is at last. Shortwinger, named after a word for a hawk (particularly one of the goshawk genus), is an intelligently assembled sequence of songs and instrumental pieces that follows a loosely folk-mythological theme in exploring the occurrence and role of birds and hares in folk culture. So even before you listen to the first note you know you’re in for a treat, something pretty special that will both stimulate and satisfy, challenge and educate and greatly please.
01. Austringer (3.16)
01. Jenny Wren (3.15)
01. Flying Boy (4.11)
01. The Grey Heron (3.11)
01. Swallow (2.40)
01. The Lucky Blackbird / House of White Roses (7.13)
01. Murmuration (7.14)
01. The Owl (1.41)
01. The Fabled Hare (13.45)
01. The Lark in the Clear Air (Roud 24791) (2.04)
11. The Curlew (2.45)
Maddy Prior: vocals.
Hannah James: vocals, accordion.
Giles Lewin: vocals, violin, viola, recorder, bagpipes
with
Barney Morse-Brown: cello [4]