Customer Reviews
Best folk album in years - By: M. REID, 05 Aug 2008 
I bought this album after seeing their performance at the Cambridge Folk Festival - it's a masterpiece.
90% pretentious rubbish, with one gem of utter brilliance - By: Cruachan, 04 Aug 2008 
I've seen this live as well as have the CD, & it's worth buying the CD for 'Cold Haily Rainy Night' alone as it's an interpretation of utter brilliance - on which the interplay of Chris Wood & Eliza Carthy's vocals is magnificently offset by the backing from the rest of the ensemble.
Unfortunatly it's really the only reason for buying the CD as the rest of the assembled tracks range from the mediocre to the embarrassing. One desperatly wishes that the Kipper Family could have been substituted for the Coppers as at least then this inflated balloon of 'Pomp Folk' would have been suitably deflated at birth with a gale of laughter.
It is difficult to see what the point of 'The Imagined Village' actually is. There have been successful folk concept albums - Martyn Bennet's work (Glen Lyon for example), & Bellowhead's reworking of the English tradition shows that there is still new life & above all fun to be foundin it with a large band (Burlesque), but this indulgence is best forgotten.
At the festival where I saw this live the Peatbog Fairies (What Men Deserve to Lose) were performing on the alternative stage & it was noticable the people were votingin droves with their feet by leaving the English navel-gazing to go & bop up a storm with the Celts - & with the exception of 'Cold Haily Rainy Night' that's the best advise for this CD too.
fantastic and joyful. Buy it now! - By: time I had some time alone, 24 Jul 2008 Don't tell anyone, but the first time I listened to The Imagined Village, I wasn't sure I liked it. I had already heard the excellent version of John Barleycorn on a Word CD, but the rest left me a little cold. How wrong could I be? Now, however, after repeated listens, this album has revealed itself as a minor masterpiece.
It opens with a deliberate link from the past to the presentin Ouses, Ouses, Ouses, reminding us of those who kept the folk tradition alive "when no one wanted to listen" & proceeds to celebrate folk's rise from the ashes to a new prominencein the 21st century. The album also makes you remember that folk music was always as much about dancing as storytelling, fusing modern beats onto classic folk tunesin a brilliant concoction. We could debate what folk music means for ever, but I am happy to include the daring reworking of Tam Lyn as well as the more traditional tunes showcased here.
Highlights- well, everything really, but I love Billy Bragg's new words to Hard Times of Old England which proves that nothing changes no matter how the times change. I would advise anyone with the remotest interestin traditional music to buy this record, & I only hope we will hear morein the future.
Simply Superb - By: Doug, 15 Jun 2008 To put it simply this is one of the best folk albums I have ever purchased, the choice of tracks is inspired, & I have found myself listening to it over & over again.
It is simply superb, & worth every single penny!
My favourite tracks are John Barleycorn & the charming ouses ouses ouses!
I'd love to live in this Imagined Village if I could hear music like this! - By: aveling13, 21 May 2008 I love this album - the more I hear it the more I like it. It ranks with Bellowhead & the Oysters for innovative re telling of Old Tales - hear Tam Lyn, one of my favourite old storys, updated for the 21st Century.
Great Stuff - I'd love to see it performed live.
