Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

There are those that seemingly take great pleasure in deriding the power of Folk music. They are willing to sneer and complain that the story, often or not a tale of great morality with twists that raise a smile, is irreverent to the way of the world now. It is not a complaint that passes the lips of those that have Celtic blood raging through their hearts or those with an understanding that Folk, whether Celtic, European or English, touches upon the very nature of communication, simple, effective and memorable.

For underground Liverpool favourites The Southbound Attic Band, communication, the great tales of morality and memorability are wrapped up, presented with the occasion befitting ceremony and relished completely in their new album Our Day In The Sun.

For Barry Jones and Ronnie Clark, Our Day in the Sun brings all the pleasure of sitting somewhere between the great Mike Harding and Alun Parry. The smile being preserved whilst also musing in the way of modern society and the place of the individual within it; the humour and wit that is seen in everyday observations coupled alongside those that hide behind the façade of domesticity and the warring tones behind the closed door.

For Barry Jones and Ronnie Clark the album must surely represent a feeling of stature and it is fully deserved, it is a set of songs that capture the imagination, that represent all that is good in the world, all that shamefully remains unseen and un-talked of. Tracks such as My Irish Home in which the relationship between Liverpool and Ireland is explored by means of a young woman, The Lone Crow which is the perfect allegory for the stance in one person’s actions when up against the chattering mob, Adios Amigo, the beautifully written look at domestic violence but with a great twist, the sensational Hide The Sausage and the live fan favourite The Ballad of George and Maude all highlight the reason why Folk remains the leading exponent of such finely conceived songs.

Our Day In The Sun is one in which the music is elevated by the language on offer, it is an album of album of unashamed local glory that will deserve a wider audience.

Ian D. Hall