ALBUM REVIEW: Beneath The Black Tree

By [rrothery]

Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll Album: Beneath The Black Tree Review: Rodney Snowden

NICK and Becki present a varied programme of interesting and original material and also traditional material gleamed from various sources around the UK and Europe. Their fiddle playing, from the haunting and lilting to the bold and dramatic, shows the customary mastery of their instruments.

Nick adds his strong, unaffected voice and clear diction to three of the numbers.

I especially liked the magical arrangement of Benjamin Bowmaneer, a humorous tale from the Baring Gould collection. In this piece, as elsewhere, there is the very effective participation of the French horn played by Ellen Driscoll, not normally heard in folk bands but certainly an inspiration here.

Andy Seward and Keith Angel accompany on double bass and percussion respectively, with skill and sensitivity, and add considerably to the appeal of the performances. A most enjoyable hour's listening can comfortably be had in one sitting as there is great variety in content and style with some wonderful tunes from Nick and Becki's own composition.

We are fortunate indeed to have such a talented pair from the new generation of Devon folk artists on our doorstep.