RALPH MCTELL AND WIZZ JONES

ABOUT TIME Leola Music ✪✪✪✪ ✪

Stalwarts of the UK acoustic scene, McTell and Jones are fine pickers who know how to deliver a song. Their paths crossed 50 years ago when Wizz invited Ralph to perform at the legendary Folk Cottage in Cornwall. About Time is McTell paying his old buddy back – albeit half a century on. Packed full of trad songs, originals and covers of tunes from Dylan to Townes Van Zandt, this is clearly two good mates having fun. Honey Babe Blues sets the scene, the two guitars and voices gelling perfectly, while the country-folky Out Of The Snow continues the theme. In truth this is more blues than folk, with You’re Gonna Quit Me Baby and You Won’t Let Me Go full of authentic licks, and Tell Her You Love Her Right Now displaying the duo’s ragtime penchant. With just two acoustics, two voices and the occasional harmonica there’s not the dynamic range of a full band recording – some might miss that. But for us, it’s the very intimacy of the set-up is that makes About Time such an infectious listen.