This is the last in a trilogy of EPs by a cross-Border Folk/Americana 'supergroup' featuring esteemed solo artists Nancy Kerr, Adam Holmes and Martin Simpson , musician/producer Tom A Wright (The Albion Band) and bass player Alex Hunter.
The four tracks of EP3 comprise two originals and two covers. Vocal duties are democratically divided.
Loretta, sung by Adam Holmes, is a cover of a Townes Van Zandt tune; It’s Too Hard is more pop orientated, and was written by Nancy Kerr and Tom A. Wright who take turns with the singing.
Greenswell is more in the genre of gentle traditional folk. Written and sung by Nancy Kerr, she relates the virtues of staying at home as an alternative to roaming. As if we have any choice these days!
The closing song, What You Do With What You Got, is more of a political piece. It was composed by Si Kahn and attacks the selfishness of individuals in society. Martin Simpson delivers the lines with an appropriately accusatory tone: "It's not how big your share is, it's how much you share"
Formed as an idea amongst friends, the five Magpie musicians insist that this is very much a band rather than a temporary project and a full length LP is promised.
On the basis of this EP, contemporary folk lies at the heart of what they do although there is a healthy musical mix that could go in any direction.
