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The Robber Bird

by Magpie Lane

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  • Streaming + Download

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      £8 GBP  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Artwork by Linda Newcombe
    6 page booklet with notes about the songs and tunes

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Robber Bird via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 3 Magpie Lane releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The 25th, Three Quarter Time, and The Robber Bird. , and , .

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1.
The Lark in the Morning 07:21
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2.
Poaching Song 02:30
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3.
Turtle Dove 04:26
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4.
Bobbing Joe / The Shepherd’s Song / Glorishears 07:56
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5.
The Highwayman Outwitted 02:46
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6.
Travel the Country Round 04:09
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7.
Treadmill Song / Hanging Johnny / Shreds and Patches 07:47
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8.
Isle of France 03:39
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9.
Christmas Eve / Duncormick Mummers’ Jig 04:10
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10.
Oxford City 04:36
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11.
Bobby Shaftoe / York Winter Assemblies 04:22
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12.
When the Snows of Winter Fall 06:15
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about

‘The Robber Bird’ is the eighth studio album from Oxfordshire five-piece Magpie Lane, and was the first to be released on the band’s own label. The CD presents a snapshot of the band’s repertoire at that time, and attempts to capture the band’s joyful live sound.

Anyone who knows the band will not be surprised to find English traditional songs and dance tunes at the heart of this album; although there’s also a couple of Irish jigs, a John Kirkpatrick hornpipe, and the wonderfully uplifting ‘When the Snows of Winter Fall’, written by the late Graeme Miles. Of the traditional material, some (such as ‘Treadmill Song’ and ‘Hanging Johnny’) are well-known, but are performed with the band’s characteristic vigour and vitality – and with Ian Giles’ wonderfully warm vocals to the fore. There’s also plenty here (‘Isle of France’, ‘Travel the Country Round’, ‘Poaching Song’, ‘York Winter Assemblies’) which you almost certainly wouldn't have heard elsewhere – at least not in these versions. And after eighteen years performing together, the band took the opportunity to revisit some favourites from their earliest CDs. Thus there are new interpretations from Sophie Thurman of ‘Oxford City’ and ‘The Highwayman Outwitted’, while ‘The Shepherd’s Song’ is given a full band arrangement which – in typical Magpie Lane style – marries the song with a couple of stirring morris tunes.

"In my opinion the finest English Folk Band for concerts... Magpie Lane release a much-anticipated CD which still manages to exceed our high expectations... if I want to show someone why I love English folk music, I can play them this."
Flos Headford, Shreds and Patches

"This offering from the Oxfordshire quintet is quite the best offering of English traditional songs and dance tunes that has come this way in many a day. They have a well chosen and balanced programme, full of change of pace and variety."
Vic Smith, Sussex Folk Diary

"For fans of traditional music and song, quality intonation and clear presentation, this is a gem... the album is exactly what one would expect from these performers, high quality in all areas."
Paul Davenport, fRoots

credits

released December 1, 2011

Ian Giles vocals, side-drums, bodhran, tambourine, chains and assorted metalwork
Sophie Thurman vocals, cello
Andy Turner vocals, anglo-concertina, one-row melodeon
Jon Fletcher vocals, bouzouki, guitar, harmonica
Mat Green fiddle, vocals

license

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about

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Magpie Lane Oxford, UK

Magpie Lane is a five-piece folk band from Oxford, specialising in traditional English songs and dance tunes. The band has been delighting audiences for over 25 years - and through 10 critically-acclaimed albums - with a combination of powerful vocals and vigorous dance tunes, performing inventive arrangements on acoustic instruments.

www.magpielane.co.uk ... more

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