Maybe
a little prompting was required to get this record off the bottom of the pile, but
sometimes you are forever grateful for that helping hand and hopefully the
outpouring from the next few paragraphs will act as a further stimulus for
others to engage. Quite simply this record is a stunning presentation of a
project by three exceedingly talented songwriters to extract creative gold from
an intriguing story, chain of events and an interesting slice of American
history. The three architects are two Americans: Nielson Hubbard and Joshua Britt, and a Brit
in the guise of Northern Irishman Ben Glover. The name is taken from that given
to a group of Civil War fighters and the scene is based around the haunted
Octagon Hall in Kentucky. The result is a magnificent fourteen track backdrop
to a string of accomplished folk songs, gloriously structured in the American
roots tradition and adding extraordinary value to the precious listening time
of the cultured ear.
Before
launching into the album’s deep end, attention must be drawn to the CD liner
notes which contain the most enlightening overview to a record read in ages. Subjects such as madness and soul reside alongside phrases like ‘Pink
Floyd on moonshine’. These notes are no mere superficial press release copy, in
fact more of a splendid independent analysis. This record can be enjoyed solely
on its musical merits but you are missing so much by not delving into the
background prose, meaning and extended reading. If anything it takes the soul
of Tom Russell’s masterpiece THE ROSE OF ROSCRAE and gives it a practical edge
without losing the desired impact.
Ben
Glover will be the pathway into The Orphan Brigade for many UK and Ireland
listeners due to his back catalogue and most recent associations, both on
record and live, with Gretchen Peters and Mary Gauthier. Gretchen does make a
fleeting vocal appearance on the record alongside Kim Richey, another acclaimed
American singer-songwriter with a UK presence. Ben also worked with Nielson on
his most recent record ATLANTIC and the Nashville based producer has also
undertaken production duties on this album. However these are just facts, when compared to the true wealth revealed from the output of
this project.
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| Ben in Birmingham |
Ben,
Nielson and Josh spent considerable time in Octagon Hall, Franklin Kentucky experiencing the
myth and atmosphere of what is considered one of America’s most haunted
locations. The setting for the album is mainly around the Civil War when the building played a
prominent role. Song after song has emerged following a total absorption of the
history, characters and stories. This is pure folklore immortalised in song and
music and a major beneficiary from the artistic talents of the three protagonists. In
celebrated roots tradition there is a heavy leaning towards authentic
instrumentation and in one instance, ‘Paddy’s
Lamentation’, the guys felt the need to incorporate a traditional song.
This fetching Irish tale tells of the innocence of immigrants having their first
experience of the new land when being told to fight for one side versus another,
without any understanding or relevance.
Like
all essential albums, the track order is a vital component with the guys
electing to start with a short musical prelude titled ‘Octagon Hall’, and end with the ultimate tribute to the band of
soldiers, ‘The Orphans’, responsible
for giving the collaboration its name. Within the boundaries of these two markers are a rich set of mainly original tunes, with the word ‘tune’ being
taken literally in ‘Whistling Walk’.
As it explicitly says in the title, this is a whistling piece and is inspired by slaves
being forced to participate in that act to prove they were not eating the food
they were transporting around the plantation. To say song-wise the album peaks
in tracks two and three is misleading, but ‘Pale
Horse’ and ‘Trouble My Heart (Oh
Harriett)’ continue to hit enormous heights after many listens. The first
kicks in with a wonderful atmospheric feeling straight after the prelude. The
second introduces one of the record’s many characters and presents Ben at his
rootsy best. At this point he teams up with Kim Richey and Heather Donegan to
share the vocals with the trio joined by Gretchen Peters on ‘I’ve Seen the Elephant’.
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| Ben in Shrewsbury |
Each
listen to this album offers a different facet, whether vocally, musically or a
storyline twist to consider. Praise cannot be lavished any higher for the
outcome of Josh, Ben and Nielson’s project and while the name The Orphan
Brigade is not presently a household one, with any justice it should be. This is folk, roots and
Americana music at its very best; educating, informing and inspiring all those
who open their senses and minds to the depth of Soundtrack
to a Ghost Story.
www.theorphanbrigade.com