Engineers: Jake Rousham, Phil Elliott, Neil Ferguson.
In rock history, many bands have fused folk and rock 'n' roll (The Byrds, Fairport Convention, 10,000 Maniacs). Maintaining that tradition--and keeping it vital--are England's Oysterband. They mix folk music of the British Isles (including Ireland and Scotland) with rootsy rock 'n' roll and dance beats, African and Balkan folk. Fiddles, pipes and banjo rub up against jangling guitars and pumping bass and drums.
John Jones impassioned, urgent voice avoids pomposity, and the band plays with flair and drive. The anthem-like "This Is The Voice" features vocal support by Chumbawamba (Oysterband's lyrics address the personal and the political), and "On The Edge" addresses the brave struggle to survive in a mercenary world (with a cello part that echoes The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood"). HERE I STAND is more "produced" than most of Oysterband's previous albums, and with this album's lush, layered yet uncluttered and un-gimicky sound, that's not a bad thing at all. Oysterband writes songs with triumphant melodies that stay with you long after the CD player stops.
Professional Reviews
Q (7/99, p.122) - 3 stars (out of 5) - "...confirm that...Oysterband are still giving it their all....suprisingly emotional reference points..."
Dirty Linen (2-3/00, p.60) - "British roots-rock pioneers....[the album] contains those signature Oyster melody lines that swirl around in your head long after the CD stops spinning....showcases the usual range of moods..."
