23rd November 2009 – Distiller Records
Like a scene from Blackadder, cut with the voice of an angelic songbird, Sparrow And The Workshop are a melting pot of medieval madness. Coming at you from all angles, they stir things up early on 'You’ve Got It All', Jill O’Sullivan and Gregor Donaldson cooing lovingly against each other through the wilderness. The multi-nationals (Welsh, Scottish and American) take you for a kooky walk through the woods as they bend your mind on 'Into The Wild' and 'Crossing Hearts' before jumping back and forth through instrumental crashes and dutiful calls on 'Blame It On Me'.
If there’s anything this band does well it’s surprise you. At first they appear to be just another folk trio, only to smash that vision in favour of harder guitar riffs, O’Sullivan all the time chiming gloriously over Nick Packer’s swinging bass and Donaldson’s thumping drums.
Continuing on from such heights, they never seem to come down. The three-piece from all over then carry on up the Khyber with 'A Horse’s Grin’s jaunty chugging rhythm meshed over O’Sullivan’s powerfully high vocals, before settling down on the slow dance 'Jealous Of Your Heart'. They then carefully bring things to a close with the wispy 'Swam Like Sharks', making you fall back and swim around the ceiling.
A great effort from the kids from everywhere and nowhere. One wouldn’t be surprised if, unlike the mountain of folksters available right now, these ones are here to stay.
Posted In Single Reviews, Dec 03 2009.
Words - Rich