Tim Edey - Sailing Over the 7th String

Anglo/Irish musician Tim Edey’s latest recording Sailing Over the 7th String is a collection of tunes played in a variety of styles and with a rich tapestry of textures. A virtuoso on guitar and melodeon, he is joined by Patsy Reid (strings), Lucy Randall (percussion) and Steve Cooney (guitar).

The listener is eased in gently with Cooney’s Polcas, where a gently funky accompaniment supports the melodeon. The pace picks up a little (but not too much) with Rumba Negra’s laid back Latin beat. Here the guitar steps into the limelight while the melodeon has a more accompanying role.

Crossing to the Cape is a pair of tunes consisting of Steamboat Hornpipe, played just on guitars and Autograph Clog, in which piano, bass and percussion are added giving it a flavour of le Hot Club de Paris. The electric guitar makes an appearance in Journey to Mull, soaring above a mellow tune played on acoustic guitars and string section.

One particularly lively tune is Ava’s Dance, a tune set named for Tim’s new daughter. You can feel the joy in this traditional jig and reel. Another more upbeat track is a superb gypsy-jazz arrangement of the Steven Collins Foster classic Swannee River. Although it is a bit of a novelty track, it is in no way lacking in virtuosity.

A well thought out selection of tunes. The listener does not feel bombarded by relentless fast playing, and although the general feel is a relaxing one, there is still plenty of contrast, and what better way to end than with some birdsong. Lovely!