Chalktown - You Never See The One ...

Chalktown were formed in 1997 and this is their first album.

I have had the pleasure of working as a caller with all the members of Chalktown - but when they were all in different bands! With drummer Rob Gifford as a founder member of Gas Mk IV, woodwind player Dave Blackmore and guitarist Michael Davidson as members of the same band in its later years, and with melodeon player Paul Scourfield in the Mad River Band. So a very respectable pedigree for all of them.

Only two of the tunes here are traditional - the remainder composed by members of the band - mostly Mike Davidson, plus three from Dave Blackmore and one from Trevor Lines (who played bass with the band from 1997 - 2006).

I found the whole thing fairly jazz influenced and pretty laid back most of the time. (Dave also works as a jazz saxophonist). I don't know how much the tunes change each time they play them live, but there seems to be an interesting element of extemporisation and improvisation with instruments bobbing and weaving around themes. Michael is noted for his tunes having strange loops - and I found it sometimes difficult to follow phrasing. I think it would be very difficult to waltz to Midsummer Waltz and I think I would also find some of the other material not easy to dance to but I did enjoy it for sitting, listening and relaxing, and on that basis I would recommend it.

After several plays none of the tunes have stuck in my head nor do they seem the sort of thing that would be taken up by session players but there are some very clever arrangements and the standard of playing is exemplary - as is the recording mix.

There are thirteen track giving a worthwhile 50 mins of music.
Dave Hunt
Ramshackle Records RAMCD01 mail|@|chalktown.co.uk 01462 458031 www.chalktown.co.uk