Album review: Bellowhead – Hedonism
I first came across Bellowhead a few years ago when a friend, knowing I liked a bit of folk music, took me along to see them play in Dartford. I still remember being in awe at how tight the 11 piece band were even though at times it looked they were off in their own little worlds, entirely oblivious to each other. I immediately bought and fell in love with ‘Burlesque’, playing it frequently until they released their second full length album. For some reason I struggled to connect with ‘Matachin’, so it was with some trepidation that I popped ‘Hedonism’ into the CD and pressed play!
My apprehension quickly evaporated as ‘Hedonism’ pumped through the stereo and track by track it became clear that order had been restored and Bellowhead had regained their mojo! With prominent brass and string sections and typically English folk finger-in-your-ear vocals, ‘Hedonism’ is an absolute gem. From ‘New York Girls’, a song about being robbed by whores, via ‘Broomfield Hill’ through to ‘Yarmouth Town’ Hedonism delivers traditional arrangements with modern day lyrics that sound so authentic that ‘Bellowhead’ might well have been born in the 19th century. Things go briefly pear shaped for ‘Little Sally Racket’ where the band get a little over excited and seem to have had a bit too much real ale, but it’s more than made up for by a superb cover of Jacques Brel’s ‘Amsterdam’. A bawdy collection of folk songs and sea shanties, Hedonism is a triumphant return to form. 4/5
Mark Cousens
Out 4th October on Navigator Records
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