[FM] review of the William Pint/Felicia Dale CD "Seven Seas"

[Kevin]

Below is my review of the William Pint/Felicia Dale CD "Seven Days."

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"Seven Seas"
by William Pint & Felicia Dale

copyright 2004
Waterbug Records
P.O. Box 12736
Portland, OR 97212
1-800-466-0234
<http://www.waterbug.com/pint_and_dale.html>http://www.waterbug.com/pint_and_dale.html
mailto:info at waterbug.com
<http://members.aol.com/Pintndale/>http://members.aol.com/Pintndale/
mailto:pintndale at aol.com

This review is written by Kevin McCarthy, 8/04
"Kevin's Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews"
http://www.surfnetusa.com/celtic-folk/index.html

Okay, you scurvy-laden landlubbers, it's time to get your sea legs 
a-working. William Pint and Felicia Dale are back with ten new offerings 
that will likely induce any and all listeners to make way to the nearest 
harbor and peg-leg it aboard anything with a mast and sails.

No, you won't find "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore" or "Benny and the Jets 
(Skis)" here, but regret not for this is a collection of invigorating, 
touching and melodic selections certain to assuage even the most ardent 
loather of sea shanties and songs. The lyrics and music, combined with the 
strong, engaging voices of Pint and Dale, create a delightful aural and, 
yes, visual mix as the listener is treated to colorful high seas panoramas.

At just over 10 minutes, "The Mary Stanford of Rye" is the cut that packs 
the most emotional punch. A tragic, true-life story of the beauty of nature 
matched by its danger, 17 men of the Royal Navy Lifeboat Institute lost 
their lives in a rescue attempt that turned out to be unnecessary. The 
rescue boat eventually washed ashore as did many, but not all, of the 
rescuers bodies. In this sad case, dead men do tell tales.

The opening cut, "High Barbaree," is a high energy pirate tale that 
immediately propels the listener into the world of brine.

"Billy Boy" features Pint and Dale in harmony and trading lead vocals in 
this rollicking call and answer cut.

In other hands, "Lost," a roll call of numerous vessels lost at sea and the 
reasons for such, could easily become dull and mundane. Not so here as Pint 
and Dale turn it into most affective mariner history.

"The Packet Rat" details a sailor's love of his chosen life wherever he is. 
Think of it as an expanded version, with multiple Shangri-Las, of  "Lost 
Horizon."

"Heavens A Bar" is the seaside version of "Big Rock Candy Mountain," with 
sailors inserted for hobos. Instead of "little streams of alcohol, come 
trickling down the rocks," the spirits come free of charge in this one in a 
building down by the docks.

What's left to say but, yes, shiver me timbers, mate. This release is that 
good and deserves placement on the Best of 2004 lists. Or risk walking the 
plank.
Felicia Dale on hurdy-gurdy, fiddle, whistle, keyboard and vocals, and 
William Pint on guitar, mandolin, keyboard and vocals, are backed by Tania 
Opland on fiddle and vocals; and Mike Freeman on percussion and vocals.


Track List:

    * High Barbaree (3:49)
    * Oh Mary, Come Down! (1:13)
    * The Mary Stanford of Rye (10:06) - Alan Maslen
    * Billy Boy (5:11)
    * Lost (4:41) - Ron Baxter/Ross Campbell
    * The Packet Rat (7:45) - C. Fox Smith/William Pint
    * Cheerily Man/The Seven Stars (4:40)
    * The Wild Goose Shanty (2:28)
    * Heaven's A Bar (5:04) - Tim Laycock
    * The Prince's Royal (4:00)