Caedmon - Live

Published Sunday 31st October 2010
Caedmon - Live
Caedmon - Live

STYLE: Jesus Music
RATING 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 102473-15833
LABEL: Kissing Spell
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Following the CD release of folk rock outfit Caedmon's highly collectable 1978 eponymous album by specialist label Kissing Spell, live material from the band's heyday has been unearthed to give more insight into the capabilities of this largely underrated group. Culled from two performances in their then hometown of Edinburgh in 1977 and 1978, this collection sees the group very much in their natural habitat on stage and they arguably seem more cohesive than on their renowned studio album. Despite evidently playing to only a few people on these recordings, the level of commitment from each band member never wanes and, as a result, they collectively turn in some truly captivating and intense live performances. Memorable moments include Simon Jacquet's frantic mandolin on "Ivory Tower", Jim Bisset's haunting guitar on "Sea Song" and the delicate group harmonies of "Storm" whilst the inclusion of "Aslan" and "Ten Maidens Fair" reflect the band's Christian faith at the time. Whilst a good chunk of the material from the studio album is featured in almost identical form, a handful of previously unreleased songs such as bassist Sam Wilson's stunning "London Psalm" and "Worlds And Friends" by multi-instrumentalist Ken Patterson ensure that this release stands tall alongside its more famous counterpart and adds more colour to Caedmon's already fascinating history.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.

Reader Comments

Posted by Sam Wilson in Edinburgh @ 22:17 on Oct 31 2010

One thing that's somehow got missed in the historical record is that, while I wrote the music for London Psalm the words were a poem I found in, I think, Buzz Magazine. I soon lost the mag and couldn't remember the poet, and the whole song got credited to me on this album. If the poet reads this, I'm terribly sorry and I'd love to pass on the credit where it's due.



The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.

Add your comment

We welcome your opinions but libellous and abusive comments are not allowed.












We are committed to protecting your privacy. By clicking 'Send comment' you consent to Cross Rhythms storing and processing your personal data. For more information about how we care for your data please see our privacy policy.