Dave Carroll reassembles his friends for a third helping of what Bold Reynold have to offer.  After Too, comes Free! – to prove that classic folk-rock is alive and well

OLD FRIENDS WITH A DAZZLING ARRAY OF INSTRUMENTS

It’s now well over three years since singer-songwriter-folk performer Dave Carroll first convened Bold Reynold, an ensemble that, alongside Dave, includes a few of his famous folk-leaning friends.  At The Barrier pricked up its collective earholes as soon as we heard what Bold Reynold had on offer with its self-titled 2023 debut album and that interest turned into full-blown devotion when 2024 follow-up, Too, appeared on the scene.

And, now, two years on (pretty much to the day…) from Too, Dave Carroll and his buddies are back, with Free! – a third delightful serving of classic folk-rock.

There have been a few changes down the years, but not many.  Dave’s friends this time around are:  Gryphoneers Dave Oberle, Brian Gulland and Graeme Taylor, Fairport’s multi-instrumentalist Chris Leslie, Man They Couldn’t Hang Tom Spencer and long-term Bold Reynold vocalist, Lucy Cooper.  And, as always, this tight unit play a mind-blowing and eclectic array of instruments that includes crumhorns, cor anglais, fiddle, table, bouzouki, uilleann pipes, dulcimer, electric and acoustic guitars, bass and, truth be told, quite a lot more.

FAMILIAR SONGS – WITH A DASH OF GRYPHON

Bold Reynold have stuck to a winning formula for this third serving of their delights.  Producer Graeme Taylor has achieved a classic folk-rock sound that references the early pioneers of the genre – specifically the Albion Country Band and the earliest incarnations of Steeleye Span.  But he’s not left things there; with a couple of his Gryphon colleagues sitting alongside him in the lineup, medieval flavourings are not only expected – they’re demanded.  And Graeme has certainly obliged on that score.

Most of the songs on Free will be familiar to some degree or other to any committed folky – and committed folkies are surely the project’s target audience.  Opening track, Sweet Jenny Of The Moor will certainly stir pangs of recognition amongst that audience.  The song has its origins in Ireland and Dave’s uilleann pipe intro acknowledges those origins.  Graeme’s production is rich and mellow and provides a soothing backing to Dave’s vocals.  It’s a ‘broken token’ song and the lyrics had me wondering, not for the first time, why the returning sailor in such songs always has to tease his faithful true love quite so much before revealing his identity…

Dave’s lusty vocals are sweetened a touch by Lucy’s harmonies in Hanging Johnny, a 19^th Century shanty.  Graeme contributes a couple of his signature soaring electric guitar solos and Dave’s pipes are an interesting touch.  The subject matter switches to highway robbery for Well Sold The Cow, an enjoyable song with a humorous twist.  Brian’s bassoon is always a welcome addition when highwaymen are at the centre of the story, Dave Oberle is very busy with his kit and Graeme’s guitar solos are, once again, superb.  Gryphon are still fully functional, it seems.

MISTAKEN FOR A SWAN

Chris and Dave duet, respectively, on fiddle and acoustic guitar for the lengthy, stately intro to I Will Put My Ship in Order, another song with a mysterious lyrical twist.  The backing is full and rich, with Brian’s cor anglais providing many sweet notes and Chris delivering a dreamy fiddle solo.

There’s more familiar subject matter with Matty Bawn, a song in which the title character shoots his true love, having mistaken her for a swan.  It’s as storyline that clearly struck a chord with the young Richard Thompson back in 1969…  Lucy sings a confessional lead vocal as she tells the story and the backing is subdued, with Graeme’s acoustic guitar providing the counterpoint to Dave’s pipes.  The drama builds as the gravity of Matty’s mistake hits home, with Dave Oberle’s resonant drums, Chris’s sparky fiddle and, ultimately, Graeme’s well-considered electric guitar combining to paint a vivid picture.

Described in the album’s sleevenotes as: “…a PC version of the old ‘man meets mikmaid’ story,” Down By Mount Callan Side is a welcome blast of 70s folk-rock, as is the brief, punchy What Will We Do When We’ll Have No Money?  The latter is a song collected from Irish traveller Mary Delaney and the voices of Lucy and Dave combine nicely as they sing it.  Brian’s bassoon leads the accompaniment, and it sits comfortably upon Graeme’s thunderous bass.

MEDIEVAL MUSIC FOR THE PRESENT DAY

The glory days of Gryphon are recalled once again with the enjoyable interpretation of 16^th Century hunting song, The Hunt is Up and Graeme’s production is, once more, a triumph.  And there’s also a medieval feel to the excellent The Female Transport.  Chris’s opening oud solo sets the agenda for this retelling of the story of prisoner Sarah Collins’ transportation for the alleged crime of highway robbery.  Lucy takes the lead vocal and there’s a note of sympathy in her voice as she plays the part of Sarah.  The song’s vibrant accompaniment is a heady blend of a multiplicity of instruments – this is medieval music for the present day!

The beautiful A Parting Glass was brought to Bold Reynold’s attention by Lucy and she shares the vocals on the band’s excellent interpretation of the song.  The focus here is very much upon the song’s warming lyrics and the backing, led by Chris on his fiddle, is suitably discrete.  And, as the epic song nears its conclusion, its poignancy is driven home by Dave’s soothing uilleann pipes.

A SUBLIME ENDING

Closing track, No Man’s Land is, perhaps better known by its alternative title, the Green Fields Of France.  Written by transplanted Scot, Eric Bogle, it is, without doubt, one of the most potent anti-war songs ever composed.  Dave Oberle steps forward to deliver the song’s stinging lyrics on an epic version of the song.  Brian’s pipe organ adds a quasi-religious feel that is wholly appropriate and Dave pipes chime as Dave O asks: “Did they play the pipes lowly?”  It’s a song that, with just five verses and a chorus, says everything necessary about the futility of war and Bold Reynold have produced a sublime version to add to a list that already includes interpretations by The Fureys, Linda Moylan and others.  It’s a marvelous way to conclude a triumphant album.

Bold Reynold don’t feature on the bill to this year’s Fairport’s Cropredy Convention.  I’d be willing to place a bet that they’re already penciled in for next year’s event…

Listen to Bold Reynold’s official sampler for Free! – below:

Bold Reynold: Website

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