Search - Martin Carthy :: Landfall

Call this the first solo record of Carthy's maturity. From the very beginning of "Here's Adieu to All Judges and Juries," it's apparent that he's made a quantum leap. The singing has even more resonance and power, both on old ballads and the contemporary material. But it's the guitar work that stuns. Modal and spare, it acts almost as a counterpoint to the vocal melodies, rather than mere accompaniment. His version of "O'er the Hills" (the song that would become the theme for the Sharpe TV series) is nothing less than brilliant. Throughout, Carthy brings past and present alive, illuminating the open spaces and the shadows. This album shows him to be in a field of one, both as instrumentalist and interpreter of songs, touched with genius. --Chris Nickson