kevin ridley flying in the face of logic

Released: 04 July 2011 Label: Global Music

So what do you get when a folk metal singer/songwriter/producer decides to strike out a do a solo album? The answer is something like this album.

There is a heavy reliance on traditional folk instruments (fiddles and Northumbrian pipes) and melodies, which is no bad thing. Given the work history of Kevin Ridley, this is a huge variation in style. For all the claimed influence from the North East of England, in places it sounds more celtic than English.

There is enough of an edge to it upset the 4 Aran jumpers and 2 beards brigade, but probably not enough to attract the more extreme rock fans, however, the real attraction of this type of music is in the live playing. There is enough on this album to tire out any audience with incessant jigging around.

Think of Flogging Molly (the band, not the activity) or The Knockouts (but without the punk influence) and you’ll get a good idea of what this is like.

Angel at Harlow Green sounds influenced by the old Peter Sarstedt song, Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?, while the brilliantly titled Still Lucid After All These Beers is a pleasantly upbeat song with a bit of anger to it as well as a sad undercurrent.

There is no absolute standout on the album, but if you like light rock with a heavy traditional folk twist to it, I would, Flying In the Face of Logic, heartily recommend this album to you.

by Alan Thomson