CD review by Dave Jones for Folk Northwest magazine
The South Wales based duo, Huw Chidgey and Catherine Handley, have been performing together for over three years. While Chidgey is a long time singer and guitarist associated with the folk scene for many years, Handley's background is more classical with her specialist instrument being the flute. "A Journey" is a follow up to "In the Tradition", their debut CD. Although there are some similarities in the choice of song, the bias on this CD edges towards modern contemporary songs balanced with some traditional tunes and arrangements.
It's a brave person who takes on what have become two of the most potent, widely performed and recorded songs on the folk circuit. Firstly, we have Richard Thompson's ..Keep Your Distance.., normally a driving aggressive up-tempo number. However, here it's given a more reflective treatment, which may take some listeners by surprise at first (and some getting used to), but is no less effective or powerful due to Chidgey's sensitive interpretation of the lyrics. Secondly, all credit to the duo for their performance of the great Kieran Halpin composition, "All the answers", not any easy one to deliver but they capture the sentiment perfectly.
Of the other songs by contemporary songwriters, the one that stands out is the evocative ballad, "Where the angels sleep" (written by American Bebo Norman but picked up from the singing of Martyn Joseph), Robert Atkins "Writ in water" (a song about a character he met when working for the Baptist Church in France in the 1990s) and Peter Jagger's "Trader Johns". Handley's instrumental compositions "Wandering Piper and Brown Little Pipit", are wrapped seamlessly around Chidgey's excellent delivery of Jimmy McCarthy's composition, "Ride on", to stunning effect. She has written or arranged around half the tracks on the CD, including the title track (a rare vocal duet) and "Bonnie Bessie Logan", one that Chidgey picked up from his time living in the Scottish Border country.
There are a couple of Welsh tracks thrown in for good measure. Handley composed the opening air, "Y Deri Fach" and the CD closes with her traditional arrangement of "Ar Lan Y Mo"r, on which she supplements her outstanding instrumental performance with a sound vocal accompaniment.
When I reviewed their first CD I wrote that I eagerly look forward to the duo's next offering. It's taken a bit longer than expected but well worth the wait. "A Journey" is a fine collection of which they can be proud and sees them moving from strength to strength. What really makes this CD work, however, is the feeling, passion and clear enunciation that are the hallmarks of Chidgey's voice and Handley's playing.
"A Journey " and "In the Tradition" are available online from
............ www.creightonscollection.co.uk
Where they are issued on our own label,
Raglan Records
"Ever since I saw them I knew there was something special about this duo, they complement each other so well".
Frank Hennessey BBC Radio Wales.
We have recently played many concerts for the "Music in Hospitals" organisation, which takes us from Daycare Centres to Residential homes and hospitals to respite centres throughout Wales and the West Country.
Like many other players, we arrange our own concerts in village halls etc, and play at many private parties, where our second half "2 man ceilidh hour" has become very popular indeed.
The regular concert performances continue to take us away from the established mainstream folk club circuit, though we've still managed to fit in the likes of
Cottingham Live,
The Wurzle Bush in Brinklow
Pontardawe Folk Clubs.
Newport FC
Gower FC
Monmouth FC
Folk on the Moor
Famous Willows FC
Plymouth FC
Stivichall FC
The Tump FC Brinklow
Hitchen FC
Wirral FC
Bromborough FC
Folk at the Prospect Runcorn
Denholm FC
Falkirk FC
irvine FC
Strathaven FC
Hen and Chickens FC Abergavenny
Wigan FC
Swinton FC
Skipton FC
Wisbech FC
The Acoustic Lounge, Cwmaman
and more.............
Along with two tours of France and Germany.............
In the meantime we continue to take our own style of traditional and contemporary UK folk music to audiences up and down the country at events that vary from Music Society Recitals to Wine Festivals, not to mention concerts in venues like The Point and The Millenium Centre in Cardiff.
Festivals have, so far,include
Cornwall Folk Festival ,
Wheaton Aston Folk Festival
Priddy Folk Festival
Droylsden Folk Festival
The Brinklow Festival
FEVA Festival (Yorkshire)
Denholm Folk Festival (Scotland)
Land Light and Locals (Scottish Borders).
Cwmaman Folk and Blues Festival.
The Bridgend Festival
Tredegar House Newport
Big Cheese Festival,
Swanage Folk Festival,
Mettmann Wine Festival (Germany)
Bergues Festival, (France),
Abbey Mill Festival,
Cotswold Capers Festival.
Not to mention the many and varied pub gigs
..........which we won't mention!
