Here we have the second album from Mark Radcliffe and David Boardman, and yes, it is that Mark Radcliffe. For those not from the UK, Radcliffe is a very well-known broadcaster who has been involved with the BBC for more than three decades, currently hosts the Radio Two Folk Show, while David is a renowned fine artist who has exhibited his distinctive modernist paintings in his native Northeast at Newcastle’s Biscuit Factory and at the Oxo Tower in London. Apparently, they met at The Rose and Crown in their hometown of Knutsford in Cheshire, and the rest, as they say, is history.
There are a few guests here and there, but mostly this is two acoustic guitars and two voices, intertwining and creating beauty and melody. In many ways this reminds me of Jay Turner, Mike Harding and Gerry Rafferty, as it is much more modern singer/songwriter than traditional folk, although there are plenty of influences of that as well, as they cover a wide range of topics such as getting caught in a storm in Glasgow, the Mancunian ploy to steal the sea from Liverpool by building the Ship Canal and asylum seekers besieged by rioters in a budget hotel. The album is fresh, exciting, and bloody good fun. I never had any idea that Radcliffe was a singer and musician, and I truly hope that people listen to this and do not turn their nose up at it thinking it is someone just playing at it, as this is the real deal. It is accessible, exciting, and full of delight from beginning to end. Whichever song I am listening to is the favourite, and while they are likened to harmony groups such as The Everley Brothers, this should be considered much more like Fairport when they are in full flow. Invigorating, accessible, this modern acoustic folk-influenced singer-songwriter duo have delivered a real gem.
Rating: 9/10
Links:
https://radcliffeandboardman.com/
https://www.talkingelephant.co.uk/