Tales of the Brigantine (CD)

[Dept of PMM Castle Life]

Tales of the Brigantine
Nominated Best Folk Recording of 2005 by the Washington Area Music Association

1. Poor Old Horse/ Portsmouth
2. High Barbary
3. Blood Red Roses
4. The Brigantine
5. Sally Racket
6. Rolling Home
7. Ratcliffe Highway
8. Westering Home
9. Heart of Oak
10. Liverpool Packet
11. Essequibo River
12. The Shellback Song
13. Rowdy Soul
14. Heave Ya Ho
15. Simple Gits

A Review of Tales of the Brigantine
By Christine Lampe
No Quarter Given -- January, 2005

In “Tales of the Brigantine” the Pyrates Royale take the listener on a wide musical voyage. Along the way, sometimes the vocalists are at the helm, other times the instrumentalists are allowed to take the tiller and chart the course.

Even when performing traditional songs and shanties, the PR give it their own twist. In “Poor Old Horse” listen for the little musical jokes told by the fiddler. “High Barbary” is given a very dramatic telling, with devilish and ominous undertones from the fiddle, and other instruments.

The lads & lasses enter new waters with “Come Down you Roses / Blood Red Roses”. This intricate weaving of a capella voices & musical lines gives a completely unusual, but beautiful rendition from the launch board of traditional shanties. As a ghostly fog rolls in, listen to original composition “The Brigantine,” emphasized by the eerie strains of the fiddle, concertina & hammered dulcimer. When the fog lifts they find themselves on the “Essequibo River” with native drums giving the rhythm.

While in port, these randy crewmembers dally with “Sally Racket” on “The Ratcliffe Highway," while strong on innuendo and suggestive lyrics.

Then they are "Westering Home" to a lovely lyrical sound, where the fiddle & guitar are allowed to shine. After a few more traditional songs, and the modern “The Shellback Song,” comes a robust rendition of “Rowdy Soul,” sung a capella with only percussion accompaniment. Then “Heave Ya Ho” is a very sweet & fine showcase piece for Peg o’ Riley, the small lass with the huge voice.

As a finale, “Simple Gits” is a riotous spoof of the traditional “Simple Gifts”. The PR start out drunk & disorderly, and get drunker & disorderlier (something they specialize in, I believe).

Actually, the Pyrates Royale are great storytellers (they do a superb job on title song “The Brigantine”), whether using humor or drama (and sometimes both in the same piece). They have a wonderful lusty sound, excellent harmonies, and a wide variety of approaches to traditional material, making for fresh & new sounds. So, why say more . . . just go get their new CD.

For more information on how to procure a copy of the CD, visit the Pyrates Royale web site: www.pyrates.com

Christine Lampe, also known as Jamaica Rose, is the Editor and Publisher of No Quarter Given, a monthly publication specializing in all things piratical -- including history, present-day festivals and activities, and music.

To subscribe, write to: No Quarter Given, PO Box 7456, Riverside, CA 92513. A one-year subscription is $12. Copies of particular issues may also be purchased for $2.50 each plus 75 cents postage, up to $4 total.

You can also peruse other articles by visiting the No Quarter Given website: http://www.noquartergiven.net

 

PRESS RELEASE
December 1, 2004

GHOST SHIP SONG HAUNTS LOCAL MUSIC GROUP’S 4TH RECORDING

ANNAPOLIS – Maritime music fans seemed mostly nonplussed to find a song playing sooner than expected on their copies of Tales of the Brigantine, the latest recording from local folk music group The Pyrates Royale.

The title track of the independently produced full length CD, “The Brigantine” is labeled on the cover as track #5. However when the CD is played, the listener will hear it as the fourth song on the recording.

“It doesn’t bother me,” said Germantown resident G. Tucker. “I think it sounds great anyway.”

“Well, it filled me with a sense of dread all right,” declared band member Kat Fairbanks, knocking over an inkwell and ruining a map of the Dry Tortugas in her agitation. “But I want to say for the record that I had nothing to do with it. I’m just the navigator.”

“I was putting together a little something in the kitchen, expecting a rousing version of 'Sally Racket’ to play on the Victrola, and suddenly I heard spooky violin and concertina sounds," said former Pyrates Royale member Louis theMoor, now working as a chef in the port city of Baltimore. "I was so scared, I nearly dropped the souffle.”

“But, I didn’t.” theMoor concluded.

“Oh, the songs were out of order, then?” said Fairbanks’ mother, who asked not to be named. “I didn’t notice. Doesn’t my Katherine sound lovely on the hammered dulcimer, though?”

Before anyone could ask what on earth a hammered dulcimer was, she continued, “I really don’t see what all the fuss is about. It’s just a typo, after all.”

“It is NOT, mum!” retorted Fairbanks, knocking over another inkwell, narrowly missing her trousers but ruining the rug. “It’s the CURSE OF THE BRIGANTINE!”

“Come now, dear. I think you’ve had too much sun again,” said Fairbanks’ mother. “Let’s get you a cold drink. Maybe you should have a little lie down.”

 

http://www.pyrates.com/recordings/