The glass influence can be seen all over modern day Stourbridge. The Glassboys fly the sporting flag, while a bite 'n' pint can be had in The Glassworks pub. To these you can add the ongoing work done by The Glasshouse College in their chosen field of education. Now the world renowned glassmaking tradition of this Black Country town gets a different slant in the arts world. This is in the shape of a meticulously curated and creatively spun body of work unveiled to the world under the banner VOICES FROM THE CONES. Spearheaded by local singer-songwriter/musician Dan Whitehouse, this concept album brings to life 400 years of industrial heritage in the timeless volume of words and song.
Commissioned by a partnership including the Ruskin Mill Trust, archives have been trawled; first hand experience sought and anecdotes collected to morph into a dozen songs brimming with a past life under the control of Whitehouse and his accomplices. These range from local storyteller John Edgar to local folk musician Kim Lowings and extends across the Black Country/Brummie divide to Chris Cleverley. Further vocal contributions come from Elizabeth J. Birch, Nicole Justice, Angella Corinna and Katie Whitehouse, the latter guesting on album finale 'Hands Heart Head' - the ethos and spirit of the Glasshouse with connotations in education and employment.
Such endeavour and commendable goals still require a highly desirable product to pitch to the music world. Throughout a refreshing forty-minute tenure, the sounds and styles conveyed call at many ports from amusing ditties and rousing pieces to pushing musical boundaries and the inevitable selected gorgeous vocal parts. From the early song previews via solo Dan Whitehouse shows/festival sets to a pre-album evening in August, the joyful tones of 'Free Beer' and eye-winking euphemism to 'The Old Savoy' resonated strongly, partially aided by several local references that perhaps won't travel further than the ring road.
Dan Whitehouse is widely known for his experimental approach to folk music. There are strong electro vibes to 'Moving'. A modernist slice coupling extensive instrumental with some fabulous lyrics headed by the line 'Middle East to the west of the middle' to track the historical shift of glass traditions to the English Black Country. A full on instrumental piece spices up the record in the penultimate spot with 'The Hive' filtering in a thoughtful phase after a steady flow of stories, tales and much musing to decipher.
These musings kick off the album with the title track 'Voices From the Cones', which starts with the anecdotal words of an old glassworker before letting the golden voice of Kim Lowings loose on a duet song. She also appears later in 'Picking Sticks' alongside the voice and piano of Dan Whitehouse and some interesting hammer dulcimer from a guest musician.
Amusing segments are never too far away, and local storyteller John Edgar takes full control in the music hall style of 'Front Door' as the theme impishly moves towards some of the extra-curricular activities the workers got up to with their world class products. On a more serious note, Elizabeth J. Birch delivers a strong message in 'Rouse Ye Women' to reflect that the glassworkers were often in unison with other other industrial trades in pursuit of better rewards.
The earlier mentioned Chris Cleverley joins up with Dan Whitehouse in the writing of 'The Last Apprentice' before solely acting out the vocals on a song depicting a sad demise in collusion with the man literally taking the title. Fortunately, he is still here to tell a tale now documented in song to play out the ideals of folk music.
The final two songs represent a tangible side to the glass industry. 'Flip Flop' has hip hop shades while actually being a traditional glass musical instrument and gets the expert vocal treatment from Nicole Justice. 'Rose Bowl' was a gift showing the empathetic side to an industry that we have been left in no doubt was a tough life. Angellina Corinna lends the vocals to a song illuminated by some delectable pedal steel.
The physical release includes an additional disc narrated and written by John Edgar with some of the interviews undertaken to fuel the songs that make this such a special and hugely enjoyable listen. The disc also intersperses the songs to alter the dimension. The richness and diversity to this album sets it apart. The songs educate, inform and entertain, thus ensuring any investment in this project has been wholly worthwhile. That investment now extends a hand to listeners making a wise choice to engage.
VOICES FROM THE CONE is a prime example of folk in the field to rival any contemporary take on immortalising the past in the entertaining shrine of music, words and song. It acts as an accessory for locals to view their heritage through a different lens and an artistic conduit to draw interest from afar. Dan Whitehouse and his team have done Stourbridge proud, but foremost, the legacy of an industry proud.