The traditional music of England is a dark art-form. Study the words of a traditional English ballad, and it won't take you long to find murder, incest, love, death and betrayal – often all within the same song. The English people sung about the hard nature of their lives, but often their songs are lightened by an equally hard humor. Cruel Folk write, record and perform original music in the English tradition. Consisting of singer and multi-instrumentalist Sean Holden, and virtuoso guitarist Paul Holden their songs tell stories both of real events, such as the Battle of Towton Field, and of imagined events where good people take on the evils of the world, but don't always prevail. Cruel Folk are devoted to the continuing renewal of the English tradition, using instruments including mandocello, mandolin, guitar, bouzouki and whistle, and in addition to their original material perform both modern and ancient folk songs written by others.
About the Musicians
Cruel Folk are Sean and Paul Holden. Have fun working out the relationship. (Hint: suggesting “civil partnership” is unlikely to win you two new friends.)
Both have been playing music for about as long as they can remember. Until somewhere around 2000 they were playing mostly rock music – Sean as a drummer and Paul as a guitarist – for Underground Zero. They continue to do this, although an increasing love of the English folk tradition has led them for the last few years to spend most of their time writing, recording and performing acoustic music, both traditional and original.
Sean Holden has been a drummer since the age of nine. The nearest thing he's ever had to a religious experience was the first time he sat behind a drum kit. Having had parents who loved music he was lucky in having a supportive environment in which to pursue this, and consequently has never really stopped, playing for rock bands as well as quite a bit of big band and small group jazz.
Having learned a little guitar at an even earlier age, he was inspired to play folk music initially by hearing Martin Carthy and Roy Harper. However the real incentive came at the Cambridge Folk Festival in 2001. On this occasion, hearing the sound of a mandocello in Show of Hands' set led to an "I have to learn to play one of those" moment, and then to a re-discovery of the joys of the guitar, and the bouzouki and mandolin, and then singing.
He was initially not very keen to do the singing, until he was unfairly forced into drinking an unhealthy quantity of beer one night and persuaded to give it a try.
He now plays acoustic music of varying styles with Cruel Folk and as a solo artist. He also built and runs the studio where Cruel Folk record.
Paul Holden began playing guitar at the age of about twelve, because his brother did, then stopped at the age of about twelve and three days, because he could only play My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, and that was only recognisable if he told people in advance what it was.
He then started again at the age of seventeen, and apart form a slight lull when he was married, hasn't stopped since. He is entirely devoted to the guitar, and to the acquisition of excessive numbers of guitars. (Despite the fact that you might see him wielding numerous mandolin-bodied instruments – these are in fact twelve-course instruments designed to be tuned as a guitar. Thanks to Roger Bucknell at Fylde for his ongoing ability to accommodate the regular requests for odd custom instruments!)
Influences
Show of Hands, Kate Bush, Martin Carthy, Joni Mitchell, Kate Rusby, Martin Simpson, Eliza Carthy, Nic Jones.
Sounds Like
A dark, sword-wielding horseman loitering outside the door of your farmhouse.
...the world of acoustic music must surely open their doors and lay on the red carpet for such a band as this who release here their debut album which must surely find itself in the collection or play list of those who appreciate folk music but done in a way which does not follow convention. Consisting of Paul and Sean Holden, this band is one to be reckoned with...a treat of an album. - Maverick magazine, November 2009.
"Accomplished debut cd from East Anglian siblings Sean and Paul Holden, whose stock-in-trade is vital original songs with a keen sense of English tradition, self-accompanied on assorted guitars and mandos. Though there's definite kinship with the likes of Show of Hands and Brother Crow, they have a strongly individual voice and the end result almost always impresses." - fRoots Magazine, January 2009.
...Take 'What's Done Is Done', as an example, where we're flung back to 18th century London to dissect the old 'honour amongst thieves' adage. At each stage of the main protagonist's journey, from street to gallows, we know exactly how he feels...The Greenwood
Tree' which tells of a love affair that ends in murder and a few hundred years of haunting. With catchy strings and spectral voices this tale has an eeriness that's equal to many a psych-folk classic." - SpiralEarth - www.spiralearth.co.uk - 2009.
"The English acoustic folk tradition is alive and well and this is where you'll find it - in the sounds of Cruel Folk. " - Folkwords, 2007.
Whilst love, loyalty and other lies appear in myths and are translated into many folk stories, Cruel Folk remove any redeeming hope from their tales. "The Greenwood Tree" fittingly ends the album with a traditional story of haunting from the grave; a dark tale told with perceptive lyrics and delightful instrumentals. The album is thought provoking, its stories can be uncomfortable listening maybe, don't
look for happy endings; but the music is great and the messages of interest. folking.com, February 2009.
"Indeed, Show of Hands is the closest musical reference point for Cruel Folk. If you like the sound of that popular duo then you might like this duo too. The guitar-dominated musical texture is rather pleasing, and the production brings this out well, adding plenty of neat little touches to boot. This collection also contains some strong melodies, some thoughtful, witty and sensitive lyrics and evocative vocals, suggesting that Cruel Folk’s appeal doesn’t rest upon their penchant for gothic gruesomeness as much as they might think." - Moving Tone, 2008.
"The songs show the brutality of war how it dehumanises and becomes about survival and getting home. People don't write songs like these anymore? Cruel Folk do!" - Fatea Records, 2008.
"This is traditional English folk ... performed with joy." - Acoustic Magazine, 2008.
Cruel Folk write, record and perform original acoustic music in the modern English singer-songwriter tradition. A duo consisting of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Sean Holden and guitarist Paul Holden, their songs are rooted in the English folk tradition, telling stories of love, betrayal and death with passion and an open acknowledgement of the darker side of life. At the same time, Cruel Folk are unashamedly devoted to the ongoing renewal of this tradition by aiming themselves firmly at the acoustic music scene of the present, incorporating modern writing and playing techniques and influences ranging from Kate Bush to Jennifer Batten via Show of Hands.
Cruel Folk's debut album Love, Loyalty and Other Lies is available now, for £8-50 including postage and packaging.
Both of our CDs can be purchased by credit card or through your PayPal account by visiting our official site at
www.cruelfolk.com.
The track listing is exactly the same as the track listing for this page: Foreign Lands, Cold Blood, Before I Walk Away, Worst Nightmare, For the Cause, Magic's Almost Gone, What's Done is Done, Merry England, Greenwood Tree.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
DARK Greetingz from the Land of the MOURNING calm ... I, Pain of "a doom" would like to send out my deepest gratitude and respects to CRUEL FOLK ......
Thank you very much for the EVIL nod ... It's truly an honor to be friendz with you ......
I wish you ALL the best and send my double horns to your wonderful DARK mid-EVIL Music ......
Just say "a doom" : It means DARKNESS in Korean ... With that in mind ......
Hi Folks, thanks for your comment and for the funny foto. How do the crazy hats correspond with your name Cruel Folk? Or is it a kind of cruelty, wearing such hats? For example for other peoples eyes? ;-)
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Hi Folks, thanks for the friendship and for the connection with Celtic Connection. Great songs at yours, great voices, too. Keep on folkin' ;-) All the best wishes from Germany, the CC's
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
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Thank you
