Search - Liberty Horses :: Joyland

Sparkling Folk Pop

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 02/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Liberty Horses' Joyland is a gem. The lead singers and writers are Neil & Calum MacColl who are sons of legendary writer Ewan MacColl and folk feminist Peggy Seeger. They blend with full arrangements and great harmony vocals. "Colours of Spring" is a light beautiful folk tune with flutes that flit in and over the melody. "King of a Rainy Country" is a beautiful midtempo pop melody with sister Kristy (credited as Kitty) MacColl on background vocals. The light pop contrasted with the darker lyric is an intersting combination similar to indie band Beulah's "The Coast is Never Clear." "You're the man who makes the gun; don't you ever feel used?" Gorgeous harmonies allmusic credits to Kristy lift the folk tune "Shine" with more flutes. "Memory Lane" is a slow wistful track, "We tried to feel it," the singer regretfully recalls. Eddi Reader joins on background vocals on "Flowers" with soft acoustic guitar, "the sun goes up & the sun goes down & the hands on the clock go round & round." "Wind & Rain" is an instant favorite of mine, a hot offbeat rocker with a keyboard that churns as if cranking up a storm. This one's near classic. "Believe" is beautiful pop elegance, "Love yourself & treasure the world." "King of the World" is a pensive acoustic track with particular passion on the vocal, "You can stand alone with everyone else who's just found they can't afford heaven." Makes you think! "This Town" is a folk rocker with the electric twang of guitar, "You wear your face like a hand-me-down, too much living & not enough life in this town." A hyperactive rhythm guitar opens "Black Lines" as electric guitar weaves in and out like a snake from the Middle East with both Kristy MacColl & Eddi Reader on background vocals. "I Want to Scare Myself" is a full tilt rocker. "XXX" is a soft shoe folk tune, "High on a hill there's 3 empty crosses; one of them's yours & one of them's mine." As MacColl sings, his voice breaks showing great emotion, "Someone will come & someone will save us just in time." Liberty Horses' CD is worth seeking out. Tis a pity they don't have a whole list of releases in the 9 years since this gem first was set. Enjoy!"