Spiro - Pole Star on CD

Description

Spiro have been together, their line-up completely unchanged, for over 20 years. That probably doesn't come as a surprise to those who've heard the four musicians in action: completely in tune with one another, there's no ornamentation to attract attention to one particular instrument. In fact, there's that feeling that each member of the band isn't just playing that instrument, they're playing the whole thing. This is what Spiro refer to as "the mesh", the locked-in ensemble sound that's a relentless, wonderfully overpowering assault on the eardrums. With their second and third albums (Lightbox and Kaleidophonica) released on Real World Records - both receiving rave reviews - it seemed fitting to complete the set and re-release Spiro's very first album, Pole Star, which originally came out in 1997. Pole Star was recorded live in a two day session at the former BBC Christchurch Studios in Bristol in the winter of 1996-7 by Portishead engineer Rik Dowding. This lost gem of an album is a wonderful addition to the Spiro collection, demonstarting how their unique and fascinating sound began, and how fresh it remains after 17 years.

TRACKS

1. The Iron Way - Spiro
2. Have A Care Of Her Johnny - Spiro
3. Prussia Cove - Spiro
4. Gillan Na Drover - Spiro
5. Heartsease - Spiro
6. The Sky Is A Blue Bowl - Spiro
7. Gingling Geordie - Spiro
8. The Lily/The Grouse Was Dead (When It Hit The Queen) - Spiro
9. Lasses Make Your Tails Toddle - Spiro
10. The Black And The Grey - Spiro
11. Florinda - Spiro
12. Gabor's Tune/Spinning Jenny - Spiro
13. Joyful Days Is Coming - Spiro