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Folk, shanties.

An incredibly diverse and interesting album; The Longest Johns’ Voyage is outstanding.

A band we last caught at the 2023 Underneath The Stars Festival, where they delighted with their shanties and drinking songs, The Longest Johns are a formidable vocal force to be reckoned with. They’ve been treading the boards since 2012 and carved out their niche as a shanty singing troupe during these first formative years, playing at festivals and venues across the UK.  They hit the jackpot with their version of Wellerman in 2021 and became a global phenomenon; they’ve been in high demand ever since. 

The newalbum showcases the virtuosity of the trio: Jonathan Darley (vocals, guitar, double bass) Andrew Yates (vocals, banjo) and Robbie Sattin (vocals, mandolin, organ, harmonium, electric guitar, vibraphone, harmonica), who are joined on the album by, Richard Laws (drums), Antonio Chiacchia (double bass), Alex Garden (violin), Maxwell Thomas (Melodeon) and Margaret Fowlie (Voiceover). The band are as tight as ever, with a headline world tour lined up for 2024, Ithey’re set to continue taking stages by storm wherever they play, and if this album is anything to go by they’ll not fail to deliver a superb, high class and energetic show.

This is no ordinary shanty album but then this is no ordinary shanty band. The band deliver a seriously interesting album; the diverse and stunning array of songs taking us on an unanticipated sonic journey.  The album opens with a lovely line, “Good evening, aren’t we lucky to be here right now, and I can’t remember when the sun went down” – very strong, clear vocal delivery with a mandolin gently strumming in the background but within a few moments the full band pitches in and the track lifts 10 fold; a truly rousing song that immediately catches your attention. The Llandoger proves a great party track, for dancing and drinking and generally having a wild night!  The Bristol natives cleverly open with this track which mentions a famous landmark of their town, “Coz there’s money in our pockets and the Llandogers in sight.” A bit of research reveals that the Llandoger Trow is a famous pub in Bristol dating from 1664, named by a sailor who owned the pub, after Llandogo in Wales which built trows (flat bottomed river boats). Within a few minutes the opening song brought us to the water and to the hometown of the band.

The next track takes a bluegrass feel with a gorgeous rolling banjo keeping the track in motion. Whiskey Is The Life Of Man a song about whiskey! The foes, follies and fun of the famous drink.  It’s a real foot stomper of a song and the presence of impeccable harmonies and perfect vocal arrangements throughout go without saying.

The album offers a couple of other surprises with covers of Proud Mary and The Leaving Of Liverpool, all done in the band’s inimitable style and will induce a mass crowd singalong for sure. You’d be hard pressed to not want to dance to this version of The Leaving Of Liverpool’, it’s upbeat, fun and again the vocal arrangements are flawless. Skadi’s Hammer is an epic vocal track, the rhythm is hypnotic and enticing with just a double bass in the background for accompaniment. This is a really strong track and feels strident and proud. It depicts the end of harvest and the coming of winter with its reference to the Norse goddess Skadi.

The Longest Johns’ latest album is a colourful and entrancing journey and one you won’t want to end. The arrangements are stunning and the production is impeccable. The group has really done themselves proud; there is something for everyone here. This is a multi-dimensional record and one that doesn’t fail to keep you interested, engaged and hopefully singing a

Tracks:
01 - The Llandoger
02 - Whisky Is the Life of Man
03 - Proud Mary
04 - Leaving of Liverpool
05 - Mutiny
06 - Skadi's Hammer
07 - John the Red Nose
08 - Greenland Whale Fisheries
09 - White Frontier
10 - One Hundred Feet
11 - Willie Taylor
12 - Maggie's Ship
13 - Shawneetown
14 - Paddy West

Staat er compleet op, 10% pars mee gepost. Met zeer veel dank aan de originele poster. Laat af en toe eens weten wat je van het album vindt. Altijd leuk, de mening van anderen. Oh ja, MP3 doe ik niet aan.

Hele album:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSBWvYm8t6uaSTCbYOnPtIVz0aHaViwKV