The Imagined Village

[Cocker Freeman]

Congratulations, Simon, on a great idea.

Did you find any resistance to the fusion of contemporary and traditional music, either from audiences, media or indeed the folk fraternity?

[simon emmerson]

Although the whole album probably only took 3 months to make this was spread over 4 years in between work with the Afro Celts. So back in 2003 apart from Jim Moray, a few side projects that Eliza was doing and some bands you probably haven’t heard (like Knights of the Occasional Table), the whole concept of mixing English electronica and English trad was more or less unheard of, so back then it was difficult to second guess how the project would get received. Myself and Mass (one of the Afro Celt engineers/producers at Brit Row studios were we were based) mixed Jim’s album Sweet England and when it came out in 2003 it was given a glowing reception by the folk community despite it’s use of electronica. A few years back we were working on The Falmouth Package by Show of Hands and I remember playing the rhythm track to Phil Beer and him saying “it’s great but it we use any kind of programmed beats on the CD it’ll be the final nail in the coffin for our trad fans”. Infact it was received with glowing praise by the very people they thought would hate it. There have been a few hilarious exceptions. We launched the band in Bridport, West Dorset at the Arts Centre were we were rehearsing for last years Womad show. It was meant to be a small, low key, press free gig but some how the editor of the Dorset Echo got in and gave us a right royal slagging in his paper saying we were destroying English traditional music with a barrage of noise. We dismissed this as the local Tory press having another pop at Billy. When we played in Dorset at the Poole Arts Centre a few months latter a gaggle of blue rinse elderly ladies queued up very politely after the show to get their CD’s signed by the band and announced themselves as the local Conservative Party who found the show “very enlightening and even though they disagreed with Billy’s politics the editor of the Dorset echo had got it all wrong, it was a wonderful evening of cultural diverse music and how nice it was to see a Rastafarian gentleman on the bass guitar playing English Music”. We had some one set up a MySpace site after our Brighton gig to condemn the band but it was so full of hate I suspect they were BNP. Another blog from a guy after our Basingstoke gig who wanting to know what a Sitar was doing playing English traditional music and maybe this was why Eliza Carthy was prancing around the stage like a 'spice girl'. There’s a brilliant art school lay academic who has started a site called “A Feast of Palmer” set up after he saw the art work for the record before he had heard a note of music, which seems to think we are all part of some New Labour conspiracy. It’s actually a very good, irreverent, funny, thoughtful site. All in all I think the concept of the old school reactionary folk fan is a myth because they went through all this when Dylan went electric and the Fairport’s started doing 35 minute wig out acid fiddle solos in 1977. Well that’s how I remember them when I was a punk back in 1977 and they played at Lancaster University. I think there are probably more folk police in the 25 to 40 year old age range who have more to fight for in terms of reclaiming and re-defining the tradition for themselves than the post 1960’s generation, but that’s me speaking as an outsider. I love the nutters and eccentrics myself, you should meet my family. Oh and btw don't get me started on the music press.

[Rory.]

I was at the Brighton gig, when Johnny Kalsi was making all that flaming racket during Cold Hailey etc etc, I had tears of sheer joy running down my face. That was the best performance of any song I'd seen for so long.

I can take people not getting it, but I think you're probably right that anyone who would criticise that gig in such a way probably had an agenda.

[Nick]

The Feast of Palmer site is here - http://www.feastofpalmer.com/page/3/ - and its an interesting read.

It's pretty clear that the bulk of his write-up was informed by very scant information about Imagined Village itself - probably little more than the title, a hint of the premise and some of the artwork. You can get a feeling of the extent of misinterpretation from the quote:

I’d be a lot less critical of, and probably less interested in, The Imagined Village if Bragg and his New Labour ideology weren’t the main force behind it.

(For reference, Billy Bragg contributes lyrics and vocals for just one song on the album and one on the EP.)

Neil does himself many favours in the Comments though by revealing that he is prepared to change his opinion; largely on the strength of words from Eliza, with whom he could not argue.

Cheers

Nick

[davidmjs]

The Feast of Palmer site is here - http://www.feastofpalmer.com/page/3/ - and its an interesting read.

It's pretty clear that the bulk of his write-up was informed by very scant information about Imagined Village itself - probably little more than the title, a hint of the premise and some of the artwork. You can get a feeling of the extent of misinterpretation from the quote:

I’d be a lot less critical of, and probably less interested in, The Imagined Village if Bragg and his New Labour ideology weren’t the main force behind it.

(For reference, Billy Bragg contributes lyrics and vocals for just one song on the album and one on the EP.)

Neil does himself many favours in the Comments though by revealing that he is prepared to change his opinion; largely on the strength of words from Eliza, with whom he could not argue.

Cheers

Nick

Poor old Billy...I bet he's never been called New Labour before  

[Goaty]

I can thoroughly recommend Knights Of The Occasional Table, Planet Sweet is an absolute delight, I must get the other albums.

No questions from me at the moment but I would like to thank Simon for the magic that is the Afro Celts, listening to the first album always brings back so many memories.

[cazzer]

Simon

When I first got the cd neither of us liked Tam Lyn, despite loving the cd as a whole however when myself and Alan saw you in Bristol last year, it was one of the highlights for both of us.     Was it always going to be done  'live' with Benjamin 'on film' as I think it was this that made me think 'wow' this is actually good.     Also loved Slow on the uptake [it was great being in front row and having a dance] and Cold Hailey.  

Of course it was better again at Wychwood due to the festival atmosphere  
 

[simon emmerson]

thanks Cazzer, to be honest i never expected Tam Lyn or the IV album to get anything like the support and backing it's got from the UK Folk community. I have a theory that one of the most innovative, experimental and open minded areas of UK music at the moment is 'Folk' in it's broadest sense. The fact you didn't like the CD version but got it when you saw us live shows you have an open mind and were prepared to give us  as second chance. I spent years in the 80's and 90's as a DJ involved in the Acid Jazz and UK underground dance movement and am afraid to say at times it got unbelievable dogmatic and opinionated. There were probably time when the UK folk scene was the same. UK 'dance music' has very little to offer musicians at the moment and that's why so many of us are going back to playing instruments again and wanting to work with other musicians and not just do DJ gigs. It doesn't always work but it helps when the audience go with you and let you make mistakes. The live version of Tam Lyn is how we would have loved to have recorded it for the album but simple finances and logistics prevented us from doing it. Hopefully the next CD will have a much more live feel, were the electronica and live playing will be more integrated giving the record the excitement you get when you see the band live. Thats what i have to try and achieve as the producer and it's no easy task!

[Nick]

Now you're touring, have you thought about putting out a live recording?

[simon emmerson]

ER no we haven't got enough material yet, we've only been together as a band for 8 months, but we are thinking of doing a more live sounding band based production for our next release. BTW I am now off till Monday doing Glastonbury so wont be answering any more questions till I get back. We are being recorded by the BBC and will be playing on the Jazz World Stage on Saturday at 7.45pm so keep an eye out for us on the telly.

[cazzer]

Hopefully we'll get to see you on telly Simon.     Always get really angry at the BBC as whenever I've seen coverage of Glastonbury they always seem to repeat a few chosen acts over and over again to the exclusion of everything else, even though they have recorded more.      Its always the acts I don't like that they play as well!

[gower flower (Shirl)]

Hi Simon

I was very interested to hear the album, having read so many enthusiastic comments in Talkawhile. However, when I purchased the CD I felt disappointed. I was initially wary of new interpretations of old much loved classics, such as Cold Haily Windy night. For me, the Steeleye version of this song is the best!

As for Tam Lyn………..I just couldn’t conceive of a spoken version of this old song. Yes, I know it is Tam Lyn retold, but still….I think I suffer from some kind of “I heard it first by…….(insert your band/singer of choice)” syndrome which prevented me from listening with a more open mind.

I think the key word in all of this is “RETOLD”. I believe people can develop such an emotional attachment to favourite versions of much loved songs that they can find it difficult to entertain the idea of a new and innovative version of those songs. This is unfortunate really because of  course, such versions merely add to the repertoire and do not necessarily seek to oust the originals. Music should evolve, after all.

I saw the Imagined Village live at Wychwood Festival recently, and thoroughly enjoyed the performance. I found that Martin’s pre-amble to the performance of Tam Lyn was really helpful in making it easier to appreciate this new approach to an old favourite. Thank you Martin!

Seeing the Imagined Village live certainly changed my viewpoint, in a positive way.

[simon emmerson]

glad you liked Martin's pre amble to TL as we get a certain amount of feed back from our younger crowd who say it's a bit too didactic/'school teacherish' and breaks up the flow of the set. I think it's crucial as it's an amazing story and has to be told in full so you can appreciate what a brilliant job Benjamin Z has done. I also love the way Martin C tells the story. BTW BZ retelling more or less follows the narrative contours of the Mike Waterson version (which is over 13 minutes long and sung un accompanied) not the Fairport version. I think our live show has won over a lot of IV doubter who found the album lacking in cohesion and probably over hyped by the time of its eventual release, something we had no control over.

[Anne Dunn]

I'm in total agreement to Gower Flower, I did not 'get' Tam Lyn until I heard it live, and after Martin explaining it. I've since gone back and listed to Mike Waterson's version of Tam Lyn, and I appreciated that more as well.