Album Review: Honey & the Bear - A Wish & A Tide
Honey and the Bear appear to move effortlessly through the gears when in the album recording cycle. The usual two year gap between releases has been extended to three for A WISH & A TIDE but the short wait is compensated by a record rich in sound and informative in content. Suffolk-based duo Lucy and Jon Hart use the extent of mutual creative talent, collaborative reach and connective intuition to conjure eleven self-written tracks of elaborate worth. The precedence of fascinating stories sourced from both East Anglia and further afield is maintained alongside securing some of the best musicians in the folk community to add a touch of musical sparkle. The result is a lavish listen and smug satisfaction that the alignment between artistic pursuit and listener engagement has reached your door.
‘Close to the Edge’ is a prime example of planting a dominant song to lead off. We are blessed with blissful flutes and whistles from guest player Toby Shaer as the theme explores the Suffolk legend of the Merman, known as The Green Man of Orford. Expect to be geographically and historically serenaded during any Honey and the Bear album. Tuneful education immediately follows in the guise of ‘Place Like My Home’ recalling the longing of fishermen stranded at sea. If you’re lucky to catch Lucy and Jon live expect full chapter and verse explanations but home listening offers a flavour.
The rural landscape gets a nod in ‘The Air That We Breathe’ blending family hope and a positive future with Jon leading the vocals as a tree-planting story is told. This is one of the more infectious songs on the record. Vocal-adaption is a trait on any Honey and the Bear record with Lucy’s drawing wide recognition and blending in duo tandem to express the nature of the music making process.
Honey and the Bear tend to steer clear of dark folk songs, confirming this with two comforting tracks to end in the delightfully tender ‘Everything Will Be Ok’ and the resiliently soothing ‘Be Still’. Like most of the album, the instrumental input is high class with joining the aforementioned Schaer (also on violin) we get the full Lost Boys contingent of Archie Churchill-Moss (accordion), Evan Carson (percussion) and Graham Coe (cello). I’m sure Sam Kelly is lurking in the uncredited background.
The striking album cover is full of song reference images including the Roman Emperor, Claudius featured in the theme of ‘Break From the Chain’ which takes us back to Queen Boudicca times, another East Anglian historical link. The artwork is the creative domain of Lucy, in addition to a vocal acumen no more prominent than in the adorable tones of ‘Cruel Mistress’ which focusses on Suffolk coastal erosion, a theme combining the past and the future.
As the album turns the corner into the second half, ‘Rush In’ evokes the continuing sea theme and is gently strummed. ‘Company’ follows and slightly veers from the overall positivity in lamenting the isolated impact of mis-used social media. The latter houses some delectable violin and the songwriting is top notch.
The final two tracks for comment slip in just before the half way mark. A gaze upwards is inspired in ‘What’s Left for Wishing’ bringing the album title into scope and the wonderful contrast between the Northern Lights and the tide. Among acres of intent there is the effect of ‘Where Do You Go’ and the space afforded to let your mind wander.
Honey and the Bear warmly infill the folk landscape with music of a lasting nature. Like the previous three releases, A WISH & TIDE locks you in and unveils multiple layers with subsequent listens. The present is a better place with records like this and you hope there’s more to come.
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