“The
Friends: A Gift from the Fair Folk” (music CD)
Here’s a little jewel of a disc, a treasure trove of charms and delightful surprises that will please Marc Bolan fans for years to come. Sometimes childlike, sometimes dark, and always in respectful awe of their idol, these recordings, demos and poems are representative of what can be (and should be) the marvelous product of a gathering of worldwide fans, separated by distance but unified by reverence, innate creativity, and love. Devoid of pretentious self-promotion, each and every performer invites us to witness the inner workings of their hearts and minds. It’s touching to see how Marc has influenced these fans in a myriad of ways. Pinpointing the highlights of this 30-track compilation is a daunting task. Fair Folk’s mellow and thoughtful rendering of Life’s a Gas would be the ultimate wedding tune (although, when this was mentioned to the duo’s Gordon Abbott, he wryly quipped, “Why ruin a good song?”). Paul Mother’s offerings, which include the incomparable Sunken Rags and Raw Ramp, are exceptional, almost flawless, and very straightforward rock ‘n roll interpretations of classic Bolan B-sides. We should be hearing more from this unquestionably talented artist! My Little Baby (no direct correlation to the Bolan song of the same title) is an infectious boogie penned by Marc Hartley, who sings under his nickname Delf. The tune sticks inside the listener’s inner ear long after the CD has been put away – it’s that charming. Delf’s other originals include The Bolan Bop, an affectionate nod to the many devotees of T.Rex conventions. Jo Baldwin has submitted a stand-out composition of her own, Ride with the Dawn, which recreates a poetic otherworld inspired by Marc’s Tyrannosaurus era. One of Dave Spence’s interpretations of Children of the Revolution kicks off with a searing fuzz guitar, picks up the listener and spins him around till he’s virtually breathless, only to drop and desert him amidst a gentle breeze of wind chimes. The effect is mind-boggling, and it works. There are two hands-down winners, two sparkling pinnacles of this CD that no one can possibly dismiss. Firstly, there is Fair Folks’ sinuous, sexy Travelling Tragition, an unforgettable cover that demands repeated play. The opening recitation (“In the head of man is a woman…” from Tyrannosaurus Rex’s Prophets, Seers & Sages) immediately seduces the listener into this tune’s mysterious depths. It’s a chart-quality track, bar none. The second highlight is each of the ten barebones, acoustic performances by Delf, whose show-stopping Bolanic voice encapsulates every nuance, every minuscule inflection of the Bopping Elf’s presence. Delf not only embraces and replicates Marc Bolan’s voice, he possesses it. His heartbreaking warble chills the spine, yet warms the soul like no other tribute singer can. Granted, there are smatterings of minor drawbacks. Some vocal performances are admittedly tentative, perhaps lacking the confidence that comes with experience, but the strong underpinning of love and sincerity overshadows the minor flaws. |
The spoken-word poems, while very well-written and represented here with respectful drama, occasionally break up the flow of music, which some listeners may find jarring. Some may also question the inclusion of five poems of a similar tone, whereas two or three may have sufficed. The recordings themselves are of varying quality, as the tracks were laid down in various formats, utilizing whatever equipment was available to the artists at the time. (For example, some of Delf’s brilliant performances were actually extracted from lowly VHS tape!) But make no mistake: because the disc is chock-full of top-notch performances, it’s sometimes difficult for the listener to resolve the fact that this is not a professional compilation. Therefore, it would be altogether too easy to nitpick over its occasional shortcomings. But, fortunately, it’s also easy for the listener to harbor a deep appreciation for what this CD represents: an astonishing achievement for a gathering of far-flung individuals, drawn together by their unwavering admiration for one of rock history’s most influential and beloved performers. The most amazing aspect is that this is a first CD from a group of primarily inexperienced talents; given that knowledge, the achievement is dazzling. Order this CD. Cherish its gems. Give it a rightful place in your collection of Bolan memorabilia. Why? Because we all love Marc. Because, no matter whom we are, no matter where we live, we are all “Friends”. Producers: Gordon Abbott and Al Lawson Performers/Writers/Artists: Johnny Aitken, Jo & Rosy Baldwin, Glen Buchanan, Delf (Marc Hartley), Fair Folk (Gordon Abbott & David Wood), Funky Dave (Spence) & the Masked Musician, Val Lawson, Paul Mother, Shell, Madeleine Sundstrom Running Time: 79:22 Track Listing: The Magic Has Gone, Life’s a Gas, Sunken Rags, My Little Baby, Beltane, Born to Boogie, Main Man, Of Swans and Roses, Children of the Revolution, Travelling Tragition, London Boys, Ride With the Dawn, Lament for the Fallen Elf Lord, Dove, Write Me a Song, Till Dawn, Demon Angel, Life’s a Gas, Dearest Marc, Raw Ramp, The Bolan Bop, One Inch Rock, Children of the Revolution (Cosmic Mix), Debora, Teenager in Love, Dove (Original Demo), Lord of the Dance, Life’s a Gas (Original Demo), Electric Slim, Hot Love. To order, please send a minimum donation of £4.00 (£5.00 outside the U.K.) to: Gordon Abbott Or, you may
order the CD directly through PayPal.
Please send PayPal payments to: zipgun@boogie.co.uk
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