SETH LAKEMAN ~ Make Your Mark
![[Image: R-20983774-1636942553-9474.png.jpg]](https://img.discogs.com/E0q_oqrX91DpT2mVPzkc6cv8b7g=/fit-in/510x510/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-20983774-1636942553-9474.png.jpg)
Parts of this sound almost middle eastern, which now that I think about it, makes sense, as that is probably the origin of many of what may be thought of as traditional English folk instruments. Seth Lakeman is a folk musician, who while not erring too far from the well worn path, is most certainly an experimenter and who IMHO offers an expanded and mature palette on this release. There are still those folk elements along with some of the structure and devices, his songs are quite often based on historical events, imagined or real, and this being a lockdown album, he’s also dug deep into his own arsenal of personal experience. He doesn’t disappoint; he’s great at incorporating atmosphere into his songs and is not afraid of using found sounds either. In places, the instruments speak for themselves and demand attention and he infuses his work with energy and passion, albeit passion of a very English persuasion – and that’s perfectly fine – he is unabashedly English after all, and in fact, he might even be doing the genre a favour.
There are one or two numbers that sound a bit fillerish compared to some of the others, but on the whole, I found it a good listen. There were at least three or four tracks that made my ears prick up and resonated with something in my soul, and that's enough for me! I expect the others need further hearings, and some air. I like the sometimes quirky timings, the outright enthusiasm he has for his craft, and his obvious lyrical intelligence. I also like that he doesn’t pander to popular trends although I'm quite sure he has a steady following. He’s accompanied on several tracks by vocalist Alex Hart who also tours with Jethro Tull’s Martine Barre. I’ll be picking this one up.
Credits courtesy of Discogs … https://www.discogs.com/release/20983774...-Your-Mark
Bouzouki, Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Piano, Vocals – Benji Kirkpatrick
Double Bass, Electric Bass, Harmonium – Ben Nicholls
Drums, Percussion – Toby Kearney
Vocals – Alex Hart
Vocals, Violin, Acoustic Guitar, Bouzouki, Harmonium, Viola – Seth Lakeman
Written-By – Seth Lakeman
The title track ...
Parts of this sound almost middle eastern, which now that I think about it, makes sense, as that is probably the origin of many of what may be thought of as traditional English folk instruments. Seth Lakeman is a folk musician, who while not erring too far from the well worn path, is most certainly an experimenter and who IMHO offers an expanded and mature palette on this release. There are still those folk elements along with some of the structure and devices, his songs are quite often based on historical events, imagined or real, and this being a lockdown album, he’s also dug deep into his own arsenal of personal experience. He doesn’t disappoint; he’s great at incorporating atmosphere into his songs and is not afraid of using found sounds either. In places, the instruments speak for themselves and demand attention and he infuses his work with energy and passion, albeit passion of a very English persuasion – and that’s perfectly fine – he is unabashedly English after all, and in fact, he might even be doing the genre a favour.
There are one or two numbers that sound a bit fillerish compared to some of the others, but on the whole, I found it a good listen. There were at least three or four tracks that made my ears prick up and resonated with something in my soul, and that's enough for me! I expect the others need further hearings, and some air. I like the sometimes quirky timings, the outright enthusiasm he has for his craft, and his obvious lyrical intelligence. I also like that he doesn’t pander to popular trends although I'm quite sure he has a steady following. He’s accompanied on several tracks by vocalist Alex Hart who also tours with Jethro Tull’s Martine Barre. I’ll be picking this one up.
Credits courtesy of Discogs … https://www.discogs.com/release/20983774...-Your-Mark
Bouzouki, Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Piano, Vocals – Benji Kirkpatrick
Double Bass, Electric Bass, Harmonium – Ben Nicholls
Drums, Percussion – Toby Kearney
Vocals – Alex Hart
Vocals, Violin, Acoustic Guitar, Bouzouki, Harmonium, Viola – Seth Lakeman
Written-By – Seth Lakeman
The title track ...
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson