Short Reviews [David Carroll and Friends - 2024 - "Bold Reynold Too"]

Carroll has returned with his second album, which is a very close sequel indeed to the debut from last year with the same guests as before, making this something which any fans of folk rock, and in particular of Gryphon and Fairport Convention must have in their collection. Carroll (bouzouki, mandolin, acoustic & electric guitar, acoustic & electric dulcimer, uilleann pipes, lute, vocals) has again been joined from the former by Brian Gulland (bassoon, contra bassoon, keyboards, soprano alto tenor & bass crumhorns, recorders, soprano sax, tuba, euphonium, tenor horn, cor anglais, harp, whistle, vocals), Dave Oberle (drums, tubano dancing drum, bhangra dhol, bodhran, spoons, vocals) and Graeme Taylor (electric guitar, engineer, producer) while from the latter we have Chris Leslie (fiddle, vocals) and Dave Pegg (bass) plus Tom Spencer (banjo) from The Professionals and The Men They Couldn’t Hang and Lucy Cooper (vocals). Given who is involved, the sound of this album is exactly what one may expect, in that we have folk rock based in the tradition which gives us the Fairport stylings, but with the instrumentation which is so very reminiscent of Gryphon. Carroll has again brought together his friends to produce an album which never sounds as if it has come to us from the present day but as if it has been transported fully formed from 50 years ago, but given who is involved that perhaps should not be much of a surprise. The bringing together of different bands and styles is so wonderful it is a surprise that it has not happened before now, and while I do not know if they played together back in the day I would be surprised if they hadn’t, but it has taken until now for someone to get them together in the studio and providing the songs and leadership to produce yet another stunning release. It is strange to think that last year saw Carroll’s first album in his own right, even though he has been in the scene since the Seventies, and he has already returned with yet another gem. The use of different lead singers does give this a somewhat ensemble feel, and it never feels like a solo album but instead is an group release of some import. One can only hope that Carroll continues in the same vein and there is another release coming soon, as while it took many years for the debut to be released he has hit the folk rock scene with a vengeance as this is yet another essential release.