Neil Spencer 

Spiers & Boden: The Works – review

Two's very good company when it's John Spiers and Jon Boden, writes Neil Spencer
  
  


The dynamic duo of English folk celebrate their 10th anniversary with a "best of" that offers fresh recordings of standouts from their five albums together (aside from their founding role in big band Bellowhead). With Spiers's squeezebox and Boden's fiddle in pride of place, they romp through favourites like "Rochdale Coconut Dance" and "Prickle-Eye Bush" with help from fellow travellers including Eliza Carthy and Nancy Kerr. Boden's theatrical vocals add a music hall flourish to antique ballads such as "The Birth of Robin Hood", and whether it's a stately dance ("The Cheshire Waltz") or a sea shanty ("Haul Away"), joyousness reigns.

 

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