I’ve been a big William Blake fan since I read him in college. Blake was an artist, a writer, and a free-thinker. Now, 200 years after he wrote these poems, Martha Redbone has transformed them into haunting songs that capture her life in Appalachia. I’d nominate Garden of Love for Most Surprising Music CD of 2012. If you’re looking for a unique listening experience, give these moody songs a listen. GRADE: A
TRACK LIST:
1. The Garden of Love 4:12
2. Hear the Voice of the Bard 3:09
3. How Sweet I Roamed 2:50
4. On Anothers Sorrow 3:00
5. A Dream 2:36
6. I Heard an Angel Singing 2:46
7. I Rose Up At the Dawn of Day 3:08
8. A Poison Tree 2:55
9. The Ecchoing Green 1:33
10. The Fly 2:13
11. Why Should I Care for the Men of Thames 1:49
12. Sleep Sleep Beauty Bright 3:14
What a unique CD! Onto the Christmas wish list it goes. As for Blake, he wrote the words to one of my favorite hymns, “Jerusalem,” a fixture of Anglican/Episcopal music and a surprise hit (by, I believe, Charlotte Church) some years ago when it looked like the English Football team had a chance at the World Cup. To hear hordes of rugged football fans singing about bringing Jerusalem to “England’s green and pleasant land” was quite a contrast.
And, in a rather tenuous connection, he also wrote the poem that includes the line, “Some are born to sweet delight/Some are born to endless night,” which is where Agatha Christie got the title for ENDLESS NIGHT (recitation of the poem is a motif throughout the book), the mystery I reviewed for yesterday’s Christie FFB.
Excellent post, Deb! I wasn’t aware of all those William Blake connections (but I did know about the Christie). And I really enjoyed your review of ENDLESS NIGHT for Patti’s AGATHA CHRISTIE FFB! I’m sure you’ll enjoy this unusual CD.
As a kid I was a big fan of Blake’s poetry, but these days I think I find his illustrations to be of even more interest. He was such an unusual talent.
They do not seem to have been one of the more distinguished publishers of science fiction, but Laser did put out a pretty good novel by Ray Nelson called BLAKE’S PROGRESS. Of course, you already knew that, didn’t you George…
Ah, LASER BOOKS! Yes, Drongo, LASER BOOKS brings back a lot of memories. I especially liked those dazzling Kelly Freas covers! The quality of the line was uneven, but you’re right about Ray Nelson’s BLAKE’S PROGRESS. One of the better books Roger Elwood ever published! I’m a fan of Blake’s amazing illustrations, too.
Deb (and George) – last year we saw the play JERUSALEM, inspired by (in a way) Blake’s poem, which is referred to several times. It won Mark Rylance his second (very well deserved) Tony Award as Best Actor.
Very interesting stuff.
William Blake is a wonderous figure in English literature and art, Jeff. His stuff never gets old. It’s astonishing that Blake’s work finds its way into 21st Century music and drama after 200 years!
Jerusalem (the play).
i am a big William Blake fan too and am so grateful to NPR for that interview — I never heard of Martha Redbone but I am a huge fan now. I can’t stop listening to that album. I think William Blake would have approved!
Yes, that NPR interview featured some of the better songs on this CD, Tanya. I wish Martha Redbone had some of those songs on YouTube so I could embed them, too.
There’s a story (possibly apocryphal, but with Blake, one never knows) that Blake and his wife would take off all their clothes and then sit facing one another while each took a turn reading verses of “Paradise Lost” to the other. An odd form of foreplay, but apparently it worked for them.
I’ve heard that story, too, Deb. Startling, if true…
I’ve always found the promise of nude Milton readings to be a surefire way of picking up girls.
george, i think the whole album is amazing. maybe one or two songs i don’t love but who am I to quibble? LOL! i ended up buying it on bandcamp after streaming it like crazy. The Garden of love, The Fly, How Sweet I Roamed, I Rose Up at the Dawn of The Day are my favorites I think. Oh A Poison Tree too is fantastic too. I love your “nomination” for Most Surprising CD of 2012. http://martharedbonerootsproject.bandcamp.com/
Using William Blake’s poetry as the lyrics to bluesy folk songs qualifies as a surprise to me, Tanya. Very original!
I believe that line Deb quotes is also a line in a Doors song.
Yeah, Blake seems like the sort of mystical rebel that Jim Morrison would appreciate.