Richard Trethewey - Richard Gendall’s Cornish Protest Songs

Folk music has always been a sanctuary for local memory, and, on Richard Gendall’s Cornish Protest Songs, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Richard Tretheway gives a new life to four of mid-20th century compositions by Cornish linguist and songwriter Richard ’Dick’ Gendall. Rather than treating these vintage pieces as dry archival curiosities, he presents them with a warm, urgent relevance that speaks to a worldwide audience.

The standout anchor track is a splendid rendition of the previously unrecorded Poor Cousin Jack that opens the release; written by Gendall in 1973, it charts the anxieties of a young family attempting to secure a local future amidst shifting economic tides. Trethewey handles the material with immense grace and his recognisable touch, steering clear of heavy-handed polemics, leaning instead into understated arrangements enriched by Kath Buckler’s expressive cello.

Elsewhere, the record broadens its scope toward timeless stories, touching gently upon the cadence of coastal life, on maritime heritage, and on issues that seem to be endemic of our societies, in the UK and abroad. Besides the four pieces by Gendall, the EP also includes a new version of Trethewey’s own 2012 piece Smoking Chimneys. Guest contributions from the likes of Jim Causley and Harbottle and Jonas imbue the tracks with a collaborative feel that transforms individual reflection into a shared, communal chorus.

It all adds up to a concise and beautifully crafted release. Trethewey has crafted a poignant tribute to Gendall’s legacy, one that honours the distinct cultural identity of Cornwall whilst offering a deeply resonant, universal listening experience for folk enthusiasts around the globe.