Sunday, April 06, 2008

Dando Shaft - Dando Shaft (1971)


Δεν ξέρω πόσοι από σας έχουν γενικά καλές σχέσεις με την folk. Την έννοια folk και την μουσική που περιβάλει αυτόν τον όρο την άκουσα ουσιαστικά αρχές δεκαετίας του 80 ως σπουδαστής. Αν υπάρχει κάποιος επισκέπτης από Χαλκίδα, ενδεχομένως να θυμάται ένα μπαράκι που λεγόταν «Κιούπι Κιούτ» στην ανηφόρα μετά τα Ζώδια. Ο ιδιοκτήτης του μπαρ (συνονόματος Γιώργος αν θυμάμαι καλά) είχε παντρευτεί μία πανέμορφη Σκωτσέζα, με αποτέλεσμα να παίζει πολλές ώρες folk, στο πιο «ψαγμένο» τότε μπαράκι της Χαλκίδας. Από τα ομορφότερα που έχω δει στη ζωή μου. Μικρό, συμπαθητικό, ζεστό με μικρό κηπάκο και ερωτιάρικο.

Εκεί πρωτοείδα και άκουσα αρκετούς δίσκους και κασέτες χωρίς όμως να θυμάμαι αρκετά. Απλά σημείωνα ότι μου άρεσε τότε περισσότερο, σε μία περίοδο όμως που ήμουν απαίδευτος με αυτή τη μουσική. Μόνο εκεί νωρίς το απόγευμα μπορούσα να την ακούσω. Κάπως έτσι ήρθα σε επαφή για πρώτη φορά με τους Dando Shaft. Ακούγοντας το δίσκο κόλλησα στο έκτο κομμάτι, το Railway. Όπως ήταν φυσικό γράφτηκε σε κασέτα η οποία με τα χρόνια διέλυσε. Τα χρόνια πέρασαν μέχρι που η καλή Edsel έβγαλε το cd για να ξυπνήσει μνήμες. Στην περίφημη αυτή folk μπάντα θα επανέλθω διότι στο μεταξύ που «ψάχτηκα» με αυτούς βρήκα πανέμορφες συνθέσεις.

Personnel (1st Lp)
ROGER BULLEN bs
DAVE COOPER gtr, vcls
KEVIN DEMPSEY gtr, vcls
MARTIN JENKINS vcls, mandolin, violin
TED KAY perc

ALBUMS:
1(A) AN EVENING WITH DANDO SHAFT (Youngblood SSYB 6) 1970 R1
2(B) DANDO SHAFT (RCA Neon NE 5) 1971 R1
3(C) LANTALOON (w/ poster) (RCA Victor SF 8256) 1972 R2
4(D) KINGDOM (Rubber RUB 034) 1977 SC

NB: (1) released on Decca (75217) in the US. Reaping The Harvest (See For Miles SEE 291) 1990 includes all their second album and highlights from the third. Alternatively Early Dando Shaft (In Respect 847 446) 1994 compiles (1) and (2) on one CD. (2) reissued on CD (Repertoire REP 4470-WP) 1994 with four bonus cuts.

45s:
1 Cold Wind/Cat Song (Youngblood YB 1012) 1970
2 Sun Clog Dance/This Gift (RCA RCA 2246) 1972

Starting as a five-piece folk-band, Dando Shaft initiated a completely unique mixture of acoustic folk (none of the instruments are electrically amplified!) with driving rhythms and impeccable inventive musicianship. The lyrics are largely concerned with the relationship between man and nature, resulting in song-titles such as Rain, Cold Wind and September Wine as the first three tracks on their first album. They marvel in complicated structures and textures and are able to weave very intricate patterns, especially between mandolin (played in a highly original manner), guitar and violin. Very characteristic is also the combination of hand-beaten percussion and double-bass.

After a change of label they acquired the services of a female singer, Polly Bolton, who had a pure and very expressive voice. Their second album brings in some elements of Bulgarian folk-music (asymmetrical time-measures) but is very much stamped by Polly's vocals and superb original compositions such as Whispering Ned, a rather funny drug-song and above all the achingly beautiful Riverboat. Preoccupation with travelling becomes discernable in Railway (a live favourite) and Kallyope Driver. After Neon folded they made another album on RCA, very much continuing in the same direction, although not as good as their previous effort.

Road Song is another pulsating travel-song and Black Prince Of Paradise equals any track on the second album. Rumour has it, that another album was recorded for RCA, but due to lack of commercial success it never saw the light of day. Some seven years later some kind of reunion was attempted, but with the usual ambiguous results. Nevertheless, the magic returned for full on Stroller In The Air, an excellent composition and, at least partly, on Trees, a deceptively simple track with great atmosphere. Judging from a BBC Transcription disc, they were also a good live band. All their albums are worth investigation.
(Marcel Koopman)

Tracks:
1. Coming Home to Me
2. Sometimes
3. Waves Upon the Ether
4. Riverboat
5. Dewte
6. Railway
7. Whispering Ned
8. Pass It On
9. Kalyope Driver
10. Till the Morning Comes
11. Prayer

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