Chris Wood - Albion: An Anthology (Remastered) (2009)

DOUBLE CD One of the UK's finest ever singer songwriters, folk composers and live performers, this years winner of BBC 2's Folk Singer of The Year and Album of The Year awards. This new anthology feature's highlights from Chris' 11 self released album career to date, each track fully remastered and chosen by the man himself.
A Double Album which includes a previously unreleased collaboration with Ian Carr, Andy Cutting and Karen Tweed alongside recordings which are being made available (at retail) for the very first time on CD. An insightful 20 page booklet, featuring quotes from those who have supported or worked with Chris over the last twenty years and seen his career flourish (Verity Sharp, Martin Carthy, Ian Anderson, Billy Bragg etc) along with an introductory text and song by song liner notes by Chris Wood.

21 of his finest works, collected in one package covering his recordings up to and including material from last years Award winning Best Album "Trespasser" and "Cold Haily Rainy Night" (with Imagined Village) and previous folk award winner "One In A Million" (written with Hugh Lupton) plus performance in collaboration with Karine Polwart, Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy, Andy Cutting, Ian Carr and more.
Chris is currently recording a new studio album, he will be touring the UK with his band in Autumn (featuring two other members of Imagined Village) his profile has never been higher, nor his remarkable yet honest songs / music more relevant to today's political and social climates. Albion is a must have addition to any music fans collection an important document of one of England's true greats.

Review
Looking at his career as a whole, Albion: An Anthology presents an ideal opportunity to familiarise yourself with the work of Chris Wood.
 


Known as either the renaissance man of British folk or indeed the greatest singer-songwriter in Britain today, fiddle player, guitarist and vocalist Wood has been writing and playing since the early 80s. Whether you know him as a soloist, for his work with Andy Cutting, the English Acoustic Collective or his band and trio material, Wood has been a commanding presence on the UK scene for the past decade.
 


The material is frequently emotional - stripped down, shivers-down-spine moments of candid emotion. The power and economy of the title track, a look at the state of the country, juxtaposing parents' aggressive hopes for their children's education in a kids playground while a corpse swings from a nearby tree (''Albion, I'm homesick now, though I live in the town I was born''). But the 21-track collection is far from heavy weather - I Feel A Smile Coming On, a simple, sparse jig, is a pleasure and the traditional The Colour Of Amber, which develops into the trad. arr. stalwart I Wish I Wish, shows how warm and emotional his work can be.
 


With its crashing beats and Indian influence Cold Haily Rainy Night from Simon Emmerson's Imagined Village project shows how folk can be updated while staying true to its roots. The groove does not detract from the power of the duet between Wood and Eliza Carthy.
 


Albion: An Anthology is an essential purchase if you want to know more. The material here demonstrates quite how vital an artist Wood is, and why he is such a frequent nominee and winner at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. –Daryl Easlea

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Tracklist
CD1
01. Andy Cutting, Karen Tweed, Ian Carr & Chris Wood – The Shouter
02. Andy Cutting, Karen Tweed, Ian Carr & Chris Wood – I Feel a Smile Coming On
03. The English Acoustic Collective – The Colour of Amber
04. Chris Wood – Albion
05. Andy Cutting & Chris Wood – Down the Wagon Way
06. Chris Wood – Summerfield Avenue
07. Andy Cutting & Chris Wood – Lusignac
08. Chris Wood – One in a Million
09. Andy Cutting & Chris Wood – Hares on the Mountain
10. Chris Wood – The Farmer

CD2
01. The Imagined Village – Cold Haily Rainy Night
02. Karen Tweed & Chris Wood – The Land: When the Land Is White with Snow
03. Chris Wood – Mad John
04. The English Acoustic Collective – The Mari Llwyd
05. Andy Cutting & Chris Wood – Valtz Efter Tor Lohne
06. Martin Carthy, Roger Wilson & Chris Wood – The Taoist Tale
07. Chris Wood & Karine Polwart – John Ball
08. The English Acoustic Collective – Copernicus
09. Chris Wood & Andy Cutting – The History Man
10. Jean-François Vrod & Chris Wood – Pace Egging / Ribatz
11. Chris Wood – Walk This World with Music