Spiers & Boden

an album bursting with ideas as well as a new-found confidence to let the material speak for itself.

The songs and tunes selected for 'Fallow Ground' are overwhelmingly traditional – a clever mix of rambunctious melodies and contemplative ballads – and are the classic Spiers & Boden mixture of morris tunes, pieces brought back to the 21 st century from dusty manuscripts and, of course, a rare ability to conjure their own remarkable tunes. 'Bluey Brink' comes from the repertoire of Peter Bellamy and is the duo's first foray into the world of Australian folk song. 'Butter and Cheese and All' also comes from Bellamy, although this version is Sam Larner's and is also known as "The Greasy Cook". The title track, also known as "As I Stood under My Love's Window" is an unusual traditional love song in that it's neither boasting of "conquest" nor is it lamenting betrayal or abandonment... There are also original tracks, including 'The Fog', 'Bailey Hill / Wittenham Clumps' – the first tune written by Jon, the second by John, both about hills which mean something to them and 'Giant's Waltz / The Ironing Board Hornpipe' which is inspired by the Giant's Causeway.