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Dipper Malkin’s 2016 album Tricks of the Trade is something of a regular on my stereo, and Louis Campbell’s work with Owen Spafford, Martin Simpson and Sam Sweeney leaves no ambiguity as to his abilities, so it’s nice to be treated to this duo EP from these two badasses of the acoustic guitar. Bird on a Briar is a six-song set focusing on the role of the six-string guitar in English traditional music, which in this case means two British made flat top acoustics (one by Fylde in Cumbria, the other by Atkin in Kent) operating alone, with no overdubs or gimmicks, just two plectrums.
Of course, with this level of simplicity, the music needs to stand up, which is never going to be a problem for two musicians with the breadth of knowledge of traditional music as these two. As expected, there is a broad range of tunes here, with the title track being a version of the earliest surviving English love song, a piece dating back to the 13th century and probably carrying some influence from the French and Scandinavia. The music itself is played at a slow pace, with the microphone in close enough to each instrument to catch fret shifts and string squeaks. This intimacy, coupled with the fact that the EP was recorded in a London church hall (although this particular tune is considered a ‘secular love song’), gives the sound plenty of character and depth.
Lighter in mood is Jigs, simply titled and everything you would hope for from a Celtic dance tune. Here, the two guitars meld together so easily and beautifully that there is no missing the accordion, whistle, or fiddle, the sound of the picked strings, with the occasional hammer on for effect, being ample to carry such pretty music.
More melancholy in nature and musically quite gorgeous is Spurn Point, a song collected by Vaughn Williams in Norfolk at the beginning of the 20th century. Miniature in length and inspired by the wrecking of a brig off the Yorkshire coast, this is a startlingly effective piece of music. The other short tune, Minuet, is a far jauntier affair, with the two guitarists given plenty of notes to dance and spar with. Apparently beginning life as a violin tune, this one works well laid out for two guitars and sounds like a lot of fun to play.
This EP is a joy, and at eighteen minutes long, you’ll find yourself keeping it on repeat and quietly gorging on its beautifully nuanced, balanced playing, full of respect for the music and quiet confidence in its execution. This is a lovely little treat available as a limited edition ten-inch vinyl or digital download.
Bird On A Briar (Slow Worm Records) 2nd August 2024
Order via Bandcamp: https://davemalkinlouiscampbell.bandcamp.com/album/bird-on-a-briar
