BBC Review
As quintessentially English as the gentle knock of a cricket ball on willow, it’s 43 years since Fairport Convention released their debut album. Their place in the cultural and physical landscape seems set to continue long into the future after their name was recently inscribed onto a new bell installed at St Mary’s Church, Cropredy, near the site of Fairport’s celebrated annual three-day festival. That the peal of a bell bearing their name will ring out across the fields and hedgerows surrounding the Oxfordshire village long after the rest of us have shuffled off this mortal coil seems wonderfully apt for a group so intimately connected to long-standing tradition.

Clearly on robust form, their first studio album since 2007’s Sense of Occasion has them crisscrossing, as ever, through different narrative streams, with Chris Leslie (still regarded as a new boy after a mere 14 years of being with the group) providing some of Festival Bell’s strongest songs. Mercy Bay, featuring Simon Nicol’s stout vocals, thrums with dramatic intensity, relating tales of heroism on the high seas of 1850; he displays similarly fine form on Around the Wild Cape Horn, the latter being one of two Ralph McTell covers.

Revisiting their heritage, there’s a comfy-cardigan remake of the Sandy Denny-penned Rising for the Moon. Forceful, sprightly instrumentals are found in violinist Ric Sanders’ Danny Jack’s Chase and Danny Jack’s Reward. Both ripple with a tricksy jazz-rock sensibility that wouldn’t have been out of place in his late-70s pre-Fairport outfit, Soft Machine.

Whilst Festival Bell lacks the visionary presence that made 1969’s game-changing Liege & Lief so influential, and established the group’s pre-eminent position in the folk-rock firmament, this album nevertheless confirms Fairport’s reputation as an ongoing repository for quality songwriting.

Review
The Daily Telegraph
"....a testimony to Fairport's enduring talent."

The Morning Star
"Given that the band has been around since the late '60s with multiple line-ups, it is remarkable that they have produced an album of such quality and consistency. Overall it's a lesson in song writing and musicianship to marvel at."

Product Description
Festival Bell is the latest album from the legendary multi-award-winning folkrock band Fairport Convention. Featuring thirteen brand new songs and tunes plus a classic revival, this eagerly-awaited release is Fairport's first new studio album for four years.
Festival Bell's fourteen tracks include compositions by Fairport members Chris Leslie, Ric Sanders and Dave Pegg plus two new songs by renowned singer-songwriter Ralph McTell. There is also a reworking of the Sandy Denny song 'Rising For The Moon' (from the 1975 album of the same title).

Recorded and mastered by John Gale, 'Festival Bell' faithfully captures the essence of Fairport Convention. The title of the album (and eponymous title song) bear testament to the band's Oxfordshire home - one of two new church bells in the tower of St Mary's in Cropredy village was funded by generous donations from fans attending Fairport's annual music festival. The bell is inscribed 'Fairport Convention Festival Bell' and is pictured on the album packaging. The new church bells were installed in 2007 and will be commemorate the band and its festival for hundreds of years to come.

1. Mercy Bay
2. Rui's Guitar
3. Danny Jack's Chase
4. Reunion Hill
5. Wouldn't Say No
6. Around The Wild Cape Horn
7. Celtic Moon
8. Ukulele Central
9. Albert And Ted
10. Darkside Wood
11. The London Apprentice
12. Johnny Ginears
13. Rising For The Moon
14. Danny Jack's Reward
15. The Festival Bell

Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OZCMLW/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004OZCMLW/?tag=imwan-21

On the subject of Fairport, this cool looking release was recently mentioned on the Ian Matthews Yahoo group by it's producer. OOP, but being blown out by 3rd party sellers:

Quiet Joys of Brotherhood 2 CD + DVD
1986 & 1987 Cropredy With Ian Matthews (86) & Richard Thompson (both)!
Currently as low as 6 pounds new.



http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0001K2JSK/?tag=imwan-21