Following on from my Sunday night folk session with the great Dick Gaughan, I’ve gone full on folkie with Martin Carthy’s latest album, Transform Me Then Into a Fish.
Album titles still matter, Comrades.
It’s not an easy listen, but it is a rewarding one. Carthy describes the album as having come full circle since his 1965 self-titled debut. Transform has many call backs to the original.
The vocals are delivered in a staccato style. It can take some getting use to. This leads you to focus on the words, and then being taken in deeper with the storytelling.
Which is what folkie shit is all about, right?
Carthy’s daughter Eliza contributed to the production. I still remember when she was a young trailblazer for the new folk scene in the mid 90’s with her punky folk looks. The Carthy family name remains a very proud one in English folk circles.
Elsewhere on the album and sitarist Sheena Mukherjee is another standout performer. Folk music is essentially people music. It needs to adapt or die. This is a very modern take on an old tradition.
My interest in the new album was first raised after seeing Carthy perform a track live at the Mercury Prize last month. It was spellbinding, seeing an 84 year-old fella silencing an arena venue with just his voice and guitar.
Plus his songs. Never forget the songs - something that is often overlooked in new music.
Carthy appeared genuinely humble after receiving the applause from a glitzy Newcastle Arena on Mercury night. Of course he was never going to win the music biz vanity prize. But it was a stunning performance, much like this album.