New single from the ‘new’ Magpie Arc – plus a couple of fabulous friends…
Out today on Bandcamp in a generous digital-pay-what-you-want-form, The Mantle is the preview track from the soon to be released The Magpie Arc album, Gil Brenton, and features Maddy Prior, of Steeleye Span, on backing vocals and Ian Anderson, of Jethro Tull, on flute.
Martin Simpson may have flown the Magpie nest (ouch…) but when you can call on Ian Anderson – aka the flutemeister) and Maddy Prior from the address book to join the core quartet of Kerr, Napier, Hunter and Wright……
STEELEYE TULL?
You can’t deny there’s a certain Tull-ity about anything where Ian Anderson appears with his trusty flute and with the power chords (probably Findlay Napier striking some Rock-Folk-Rock poses), there’s even more classic rock about The Mantle. Playing to their guests’ strengths, it’s been pointed out on at ATB HQ how Maddy brings about a certain Now We Are Six-ness to the song. There may be no mention of wearing the green willow in the lyric, but it’s there in spirit.
JETHRO SPAN?
However, a certain diddly- jiggly about the lengthy verse-chorus combo sees Nancy Kerr’s fiddle and vocal in yer face and IA flute rocking as fair as he’s done in recent times. The apparent mid song lull kicks off into a mighty flutetastic jig to the extent that you can forgive the chorus repeats in the name of audience participation and the big finish all in a furious four minutes.
NO – IT’S THE MAGPIE ARC
Check out The Mantle here…
With Sam Carter joining the band on tour, dates are imminent. Check them here – including Sat 18th October – Indoor Festival of Folk (North), Victoria Hall, Settle (with Edgelarks, Frankie Archer, The Bookshop Band, The Magpie Arc and Ashley Hutchings in conversation with Matthew Bannister…and The Magpie Arc)
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