Alasdair Roberts - False Astronomy / Joy To The Person Of My Love

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Customer reviews
Press release

4...according to our Business Lady on Thu 16 Dec, 2010.

Alasdair Roberts hooks up with pals to take on a couple of medieval 17th Century folk songs, the first by John Dowland and the second, an anonymous composition. Mr. Roberts has become an expert in refreshing traditional folk songs and this single is no exception. 'Joy To The Person Of My Love' is executed with pure style, in particular the vocal tone and delivery. He sounds totally medieval. 'False Astronomy' is a great name for a 17th century folk song. Again, it's all about mimicking the odd inflections of the vocal style of the time, here Roberts' Scottish accent comes into it's own. Both tracks are backed by with a single acoustic guitar and a pair of flutes (or some variation on that tone) that run with the melodic vocal line. These songs not only sound amazing but they shine a light on the efficiency with which music was composed and performed way back when. Excellent stuff as usual.

Alasdair Roberts is fast establishing himself as arguably the most important folk singer of his generation. His music has a
weight and intensity that's absent from so many of his peers, and he's equally at home performing his own stunning original
material as he his mining a fascinating well of traditional songs from his native Scotland. On this exclusive single for Rif
Mountain, Alasdair tackles a pair of 17th century medieval songs (one from the pen of John Dowland and the other an anonymous
Scots song) backed by a small ensemble who perfectly capture the stark beauty of the material. This single follows on from
Alasdair's acclaimed 2009 Drag City album Spoils, and comes hot on the heels of his new all-traditional album on Navigator,
Too Long in This Condition.

7" single in wraparound sleeve, limited to 500 copies for the world.

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