The Heart Of England

I didn't particularly feel it necessary to own a second disk if June Tabor's chamber folk style but ended up with this one, A Quiet Eye, because I wanted a recording of the Maggie Holland song A Place Called England and the Maggie Holland version was very difficult to obtain. It is a fine song trying to find a positive spin to this badly wounded nation and June Tabor renders a fine version along with her session musicians. The entire disk has what has been described as this chamber folk fell with tasteful jazzy and string accompaniments, largely the work of arranger and pianist Huw Warren. The songs are an eclectic selection too, including the WW2 standard I'll Be Seeing You, Richard Thompson's Waltzings's For Dreamers and even The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face alongside traditional folk songs such as The Gardener. The other standout track is the Bill Caddick song The writing Of Tipperary, segued into It's A Long Way To Tipperary itself. The effect is can be compared to that of The Band Played Waltzing Matilda by the Pogues, covering similar ground concerning WW1 and having the same devastating effect when the familiar tune comes in at the end. A contemporary version of a lieder recital.