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Robin Williamson: The Iron Stone
ByHis narration, in combination with sonic elements and music, creates very intriguing atmospheres. It sounds organic yet, at the same time, strange and unfamiliar. You can really feel the energy and the power behind it. This merging of many musical styles presents a moody collage demonstrative of his great musical spectrum.
Williamson's group, featuring bass veteran Barre Phillips, fiddle player Mat Maneri and folk instrumentalist Ale Moller, creates rich and atmospheric textures with an otherworldly feeling.
In general the album is an intriguing marriage of spoken word and music. There's a radical reworking of an old Scottish traditional tune, "Sir Patrick Spens. Williamson presents new takes on material from his younger days with the Incredible String Band, including "The Yellow Snake and the title track. He also revisits few tracks from his solo output: "Political Lies, "Verses at Ellesmere and "To God In God's Absence.
The Iron Stone is not an easy album to listen to, even though the playing is first class. It is not just an excursion into otherworldliness; it's also a celebration of language and poetry mixed with music.
Track Listing
The Climber; Sir Patrick Spens; Wyatt
Personnel
Robin Williamson
guitarRobin Williamson: vocals, Celtic harp, Mohan vina, Chinese flute, whistles, tabwrdd drum; Mat Maneri: viola, Hardanger fiddle; Barre Phillips: double-bass; Ale M
Album information
Title: The Iron Stone | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: ECM Records
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About Robin Williamson
Instrument: Guitar
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