PRESS COVERAGE

Hobgoblin 25th Anniversary CD

Hobgoblin was founded in 1976 by folk musicians in order to make folk instruments more widely available. In this they have succeeded admirably, possibly because so many of their staff are musicians themselves. So in celebration of their quarter century, this CD features Hobgoblin staff solo or in various bands. Names such as Pete and Mannie McClelland (Hobgoblin's founders), the late Nigel Chippindale, Steve Turner and Dave Benton all feature. Not surprisingly, it's a mixed bag of 20 tunes and songs in a great and welcome variety of styles. Among a pretty impressive line up I was especially knocked out by a beautiful version of "The Keel Row" by Sarah Mallinson (co-manager of the Leeds shop) and her sister Debbie Warren from their "Lowlands" album.

SB

Once upon a time, well, not so long ago. In 1976 Pete @ Mannie McClelland founded Hobgoblin Music in West Sussex. Their search for a concertina grew into a thriving business providing the exotic instruments of folk and traditional music then hard to track down. Since then several stalls have been opened all across England. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, Hobgoblin recorderd and released this CD featuring the Hobgoblin staff past and present. From opening Novacain's folk rock and Tricks upon Travellers' pop, to folk singer Sarah Mallinson ("Lowlands"), contemporary songwriter Steve Turner, Blackthorn's spirited instrumental music (i.e. founders Pete and Mannie themselves), and the pure drop when Nigel Chippindale plays the concertina. If the service and advice at Hobgoblin shops is just as good as the musical standard displayed, the future of traditional music is in good hands.

Walkin'T:-)M

.. you will find yourself plucking it down to pick out certain tracks over and over again. …. Russell Fleming manages to wrest Rosemary’s Sister form the exclusive possession of Mr Nicol. Sarah Mallinson supplies two tracks from Lowlands. Michael Cockerham shows that the shop is not just for folkies with a rocking blues.

Naturally most of the names are unfamiliar (Steve Turner and Blackthorn are obvious exceptions). For example, Western Front consists of a specially created group form the Bristol shop who perform a fine version of Van Dieman’s Land which leads into Star of the County Down.

Special praise, though, for my favourite track, featuring the late Nigel Chippindale with The Hop, a version of Over The Hills which can only be described as Sharpe Goes To New Orleans With The Goons, a great way to remember him.

This 20-track CD features a host of musicians from across the Hobgoblin "empire". The sheer diversity of music is remarkable: from the melodic rock of Novacain, through the knockabout virtuosity of The Hop, John Howlett’s inventive guitar work and Paul Woollard’s Indian-influenced multi-layered instrumental. …. all will appreciate the enormous talent and unbridled enthusiasm of the players on each and every track.

Our personal "faves" include the two tracks by Blackthorn (which features Pete and Mannie McClelland, founders of Hobgoblin). "Dance Of The Honeybees" - of Charlie Lennon’s compositions - just happens to be one of our all-time favourite hornpipes: Blackthorn’s rendition is among the most interesting we’ve heard and bears useful comparison against Altan’s version. (Compare the bouzouki parts: Ciaran Curran’s style and Pete McClelland’s differ greatly - and yet both players are absolutely spot-on. The beauty of this music is the extent to which players can personalise tunes while remaining completely true to the tune itself. We can’t explain this phenomenon - but , by Christ, we can experience it!) Their polka set is lively without racing ahead at a demonic pace, the slight off-centredness of the polka form being given its due.

Sarah Mallinson and Debbie Warren …. - "The Keel Row" - is a heartbreakingly accomplished rendition of the traditional Scottish ballad.

Steve Turner’s "Glendy Burke/Swanee River Hornpipe" combines elemental Americana with an arrangement of Swanee River which will delight anyone who appreciates highly ornamented box-playing.

Mark White’s "Arrow Of Fortune" is a superbly-crafted contemporary folk song. His use of imagery allows for the economic creation of a rich narrative: the allegory is unambiguous, but subtle. Great stuff. One to learn for that late-night session moment when it’s time for something contemplative.

However the album’s musical highlight id "Eric’s" (Nigel Chippindale, Ralph Jordan and Colin Thompson) version of "The Belfast Hornpipe". Chippindale, who plays concertina on this track, died tragically young in 1986 and it’s no exaggeration to say that the English folk world lost a very bright star indeed on his passing

…even po-faced curmudgeons and pedants such as ourselves are completely overwhelmed by the inventiveness, the musicality and the cheeky good humour of this track. We’ve played this track umpteen times over the past few days and it always sets the toes tapping and the pulse racing. It’s almost worth the tenner for this cut alone!

The sleeve notes on the insert of this CD read "… we hope this CD shows the enthusiasm of all of us at Hobgoblin for the music we love." Well, Pete and Mannie and all who sail in the Good Ship Hobgoblin, it does exactly that. And more. It also demonstrates the wealth of talent possessed by the staff at Hobgoblin: the talent which, combined with the evident enthusiasm, makes for some extraordinary music

.. get your hands on a copy of this belter of a CD…. Tell them Pay The Reckoning sent you.

Aiden Crossey

The musicians and singers are very talented and have all played at one time or another in different folk groups. I enjoyed the singing of Sarah Mallinson, particularly her version of The Keel Row, and also Dave Benton with his own song called All at Once. You get that "one big family" feeling from this recording and I enjoyed it immensely.

20 tracks - some new, some previously recorded - by people who’ve worked for the well-known instrument suppliers in their first quarter century. Lots of British folk material, best of all is Over The Hills by great lost ceilidh band The Hop. I doubt many firms could put together such a listenable CD by their employees.

.. I found that I had greatly enjoyed listening to it’s many varied and accomplished styles, of broadly folk music, enthusiastically played by at least one member of the Hobgoblin staff (past and present).

…a well produced and informative compendium of folk music.

Ed.

You will recognise names like Steve Turner, Nigel Chippindale, Mark White, Novocain, Sarah Mallinson and sister Debbie Warren. This is honest to goodness Folk, with a wide range of instruments, (all borrowed from Hobgoblin shelves I assume!) and nice at that. The price at around £10 is good value too.

The Keel Row is a beautiful arrangement of an old song and I liked Blackthorn’s Dance of the Honeybees, but my favourite track is Over The Hills/Gallopede by The Hop. It’s great. This is a well produced CD with something for everyone and certainly worth the price.

.. it is good to hear again the late and much-missed Nigel Chippindale who worked at the Crawley shop in the early 80s and is represented here on tracks by The Hop and Eric.

Even without the Hobgoblin connection, this would still be a very worthwhile and entertaining effort. (JM)

..a veritable who’s who and what they are doing now.

.. all the musicians are more than accomplished, while the instrumentation and a variety of shape and form offered up ensures this is a more than enjoyable enough listen right from start to finish. …Check it out

Peter Stevenson

What a fascinating bag of treasures! Here’s our own Eddy and Tony from the Wadebridge shop, and here’s much-missed Nigel Chippindale with Eric as well as with The Hop (what a blast!). Here’s Sarah Mallinson’s beautiful voice, Paul Woollard’s eerie sounds, and fine music from founders Pete and Mannie McClelland. At only £10 for 78 minutes this is an ultra-generous CD with many jewels. Dig in!

CWR

The late Nigel Chippindale features with two bands (The Hop and Eric). He plays with concertina on this CD but could, apparently, play every instrument in the shop. Worth buying for these two tracks alone. Also highly recommended are a couple of tracks by Blackthorn, a lively bunch led by Hobgoblin founders Pete and Mannie McClelland. Neil McRitchie turns in a fine set of tunes on the melodeon, Russ Flemming sings a quirky little song about Rosemary’s Sister and Sarah Mallinson sings Romance by RL Stevenson.

A traditional set by Western Front gets my vote as top track. This is a collective of all the staff at the Bristol shop led by shop manager, Lyn Stevenson.

Rees Wesson

E-mail from reafamily

Hi!

I was a runner-up in your competition and got one of your CDs. I just wanted to say thank you for the CD and to say how much I, my husband and two teenage children, enjoyed it. There was so much variety and such excellent musicianship. We enjoyed all the tracks but I particularly liked Sarah and Debbie’s The Keel Row.

Thanks again

Hazel

E-mail from Michael Daniels

Hi

I was surprised to find a CD waiting for me when I returned home after taking the kids to ‘skool.’ Apparently, I was one of 100 runners up.

Of course I was disappointed not to win the guitar, especially as my old Harmony Sovereign seems to be reaching the end of a long and active life, and just when I was almost at the point of being able to play it out loud and in company too.

Still, not anticipating too much, I had nothing better to do whilst I sorted out my emails and the like, so I put the CD on. (Truth is can’t think of much that is better than music, no matter how well rendered.)

What an absolute delight! 5 kids kind of put paid to my days of alcoholic stupor in folk clubs, pubs etc, so my knowledge of the ‘folk scene’ ends with Martin Carthy and the Watersons, Bernard Wrigley maybe, and Jasper Carrot was still struggling to make ends meet, so none of the manes meant much to me.

The CD is coming to an end now, and it has been wonderful, just sitting and listening to it. I’ll now have to get on with my emails, but I really wanted to say thanks to everyone for the effort and brilliance involved.

Mike Daniels

Folk London, June - July 2003 issue

Another sampler - with a difference. This is the music of the Hobgoblin staff 1976-2001 (Hobgoblin is that music shop with various branches over the country).
The CD has 20 tracks and the content is variable in quality, but has considerable variety, from the rock of Novocain ('Now You've Got It, Use It') to the plaintive singing of Sarah Mallinson and Debbie Warren ('The Keel Row').

There are some instrumentals - Blackthorn do a nice version of 'Dance of the Honeybees' and Eric do 'The Belfast Hornpipe'.
Well worth a listen.

Ivan North

Hobgoblin 25th Anniversary CD