Revel and Rhyme

This is a serious-minded collection of original ballads in the English folk song tradition. The opener, ‘World Turned Upside Down’, makes it clear these are songs of dissent, calling for ‘No kings, no queens, no lords above, no walls to come between us.’ The sentiment of the lyrics remains uncannily topical in these times of post-Brexit Britain and Trump's divided US.

The album is the handiwork of brothers Dominic and Justin Forrest. Dominic provides a bedrock of Irish bouzouki, mandolin and guitar and the sound is greatly enriched by the addition of Jon Loomes’ hurdy-gurdy, fiddle and viola and Jude Rees’ distinctive flourishes of oboe, shawm, crumhorn, recorder and flute, which provide a pleasing early music feel. The Forrest brothers know their anti-establishment history: ‘A Revel’ celebrates Wat Tyler (leader of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381) and the radical priest John Ball; ‘Anna Pink’ concerns a renowned 18th-century merchant vessel, while ‘Towton’ commemorates a decisive battle in the Wars of the Roses. It's all stirring stuff, but, while inequality and injustice persist, Nettlebone could allow themselves to sound more outraged.