Martin Simpson

★★★★

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CD/DL

Brit folk maestro takes it easy.

Simpson has travelled far and wide, metaphorically and literally, on his colourful musical journey, but now responds to the chains of the pandemic in characteristically resourceful style. It sounds as if he’s just said ‘sod it’ and sat down at home with a bunch of guitars and banjos… and played his heart out. Which, for an artisan as skilful and tenderly sensitive as he, is entirely wonderful. Banjo ascendant, there’s unfettered joy in the way he sings Mike Waterson’s Three Day Millionaire and something almost spiritual about his playing on the beautiful air Plains Of Waterloo. His downsized revisit to one of his best songs, An Englishman Abroad, offers total contrast to the stomping New Orleans arrangement on True Stories and he effectively integrates favoured Lyle Lovett, John Prine and Bob Dylan songs into the mood of front porch reverie. Intimacy as art form. Colin Irwin