Myths and Heroes follows the trend of recent (the word recent is relative as we are in Fairport Convention's 48th year) Fairport albums as it contains a mix of Chris Leslie composed tunes, a couple of instrumentals and tunes begged, borrowed and stolen from friends and contemporaries. There's no re-interpretation of the classic back catalogue, perhaps 2012 fan -request album 'By Popular Request' got all those out of the system.
Opening with an Eddie Cochran-style rockabilly riff is the title track, a lively track about people believing in things which aren't what they seem : the founding of Rome myth ; constellations ; shooting stars, etc. 'Clear Water' by frequent collaborator Ralph McTell uses the metaphor of the sea voyage a boat crossing the rough and stormy waters before sailing onto a steady and calm future to represent the history, present and future of Fairport themselves.
First of the instrumentals is 'The Fylde Mountain Time / Roger Bucknall's Polka' which was written by Chris and bass player Dave Pegg as two separate bouzouki tunes co-incidentally both about Roger who is the maker of both of their instruments. 'The Gallivant' written by main fiddle player Ric Sanders as a follow up to 'Danny Jack's Reward' on 'The Festival Bell' is another instrumental, heavy on mandolin and fiddle and featuring for possibly the first time a horn section provided by Joe Broughton's Conservatoire Folk Ensemble who played at 2014's Fairport's Cropredy Convention festival.
Two songs from semi regular contributors/friends, 'Bring Me Back My Feathers' by Anna Ryder a banjo-led track featuring Chris on lead vocals which stared life about a parrot, but now features lost loves, lost tears and lost footsteps. 'Home' from PJ Wright about being content in one's place “This is home, and here I'll stay” with trepidation of the future, which is beautifully sung by Simon Nicol.
Best of all is 'John Condon'; a young recruit from Ireland is sent to fight in Flanders during The Great War, “Wee lad who'll not grow old - Heroes who don't come home. Here they lie in Belgian fields and Picardy”, Simon's rich baritone and beautiful acoustic guitar playing perfectly accompanied by Chris on chromatic harmonica; you can almost see that young Irishman standing alone in a trench playing the harmonica himself.
It might go too far to describe Fairport Convention as heroes to younger generations of folk musicians, but it's no myth that in the 18th year of the current line-up 'Myths and Heroes' is one of their best albums.
Alisdair Whyte
9/11
