Grief In The Kitchen And Mirth In The Hall is the latest album by Scottish folk singer Alasdair Roberts, who, on this album, plays traditional folk songs and is based in Glasgow, this is his 5th album of Traditional folk songs, rather than more modern music, they are all played solo either on an acoustic guitar or piano. I must admit to not being familiar with any of the Traditional tunes chosen here, even though several have been recorded multiple times by well-known singers.
The album opens with The Wonderful Grey Horse who is thankfully not being cooked in the Kitchen on this acoustic Scottish folk song, the horse in question has been cast astray and is wandering around in the flood lands before Noah offers him a place in the ark. The guitar has a gorgeous tone as this tale unfolds across centuries of history.
Eppie Morrie is a tale of woe as Eppie Morrie doesn't want to get married, even though I thought this might have been about coming to grief with a stray Eppie pen, this tune sounds about 300 years old in that grand folk tradition, it needs a few listens to grasp everything that happens to poor old Eppie Morrie.
Kilbogie is another tale of a wandering minstrel who arrives in Kilbogie and all that happens after getting there. From breakfast onwards through hill and glen the adventure continues.
The Lichtbob's Lassie is played gently on a piano as we find out all about the Lichtbob's Lassie, this is a sad tale of being subsumed into the role of lassie for a Light Infantryman, rather than being seen as your own person, as the carefully played piano adds emphasis to the carefully enunciated vocals.
Young Airly is back to being carefully picked on the guitar as another tale of highland mischief among the clansmen unfolds, a good grasp of Scottish history will help this tale to unravel and make sense.
Bob Norris is a tale of first love and how to entice the wee lassie out to the woods to get merry with Bob as well as other adventures as a wee bit of wife snatching goes on.
Drimindown is about a poor horse whose giving up and gone, as his owner goes to pray for her in the local church and tries to cast out his woes.
The Convict Maid is a sorry tale of a poor Maid who gets 7 years for stealing some of her master's property, that's a reminder of just how unfair justice can be.
The Bonny Moorhen has a beautiful chiming guitar as the tale of The Bonny Moorhen unfolds, he wants to be with his hen, as he describes the Hens feathers and colours.
The Baron O' Brackley is a tale of battles and pain at the end of a sword, just how much the Baron is hated.
Mary Mild is the tune this gives this album it's title within its lyrics, this is slow elegiac tinkling on the piano for all the grief and mirth that befalls poor Mary Mild.
The Holland Handkerchief closes the album with one last dark tale of a fair maiden being taken by another wayward nobleman, as with everything on this album the playing is wonderful and if you love old folk songs this album will delight you.
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