Okay, so when I was 10 years old I started fiddle lessons in school. Did them for a couple of years, got into the Lothian and Borders Strathspey and Reel Society and played one gig with them before I decided to chuck the lot cos it was too much like homework.
But in the meantime, I did get my first experience of being squashed in the back of a van with a bunch of other musos. In this case, it was Kevin O'Reilly's mum jamming four schoolboys with fiddles into the back of her Mini van, but somewhere inside me, it struck a chord. I swear I heard a voice....
"You better get used to this son..."
Neye Benziyor?
The Spider's Legs
Come Away Home (@ The Bamboo Sessions)
When The Boat Comes In
The Hexhamshire Lass
....
'Robin James Hurt
The Tallyman’s Lament
Self-Released RJHCD002
*****
Exciting, energetic album which must surely find itself in any music fans collection due to its sheer acoustic and vocal mightiness.
Originally from Belfast, brought up in Scotland and now residing in Dublin, this extensive life experience due to his frequent relocation has certainly helped Robin here in releasing this quite extraordinary debut album of traditional folk songs from around the British Isles as well as a few compositions of his own that certainly hit the spot.
With just an acoustic guitar to support Robin on the beginning of Come Away Home, he is soon helped out on backing vocals with the rest of the booming yet sweetly done instrumentals following. This track has such an energetic sound which is quite beautiful and by all means can be enjoyed over a pint or two. With exuberant mandolin and guitar picking to start proceedings on Farewell to Tarwathie the voice of Robin by all means holds its own when surrounded by some instrumentals that you cannot stop your feet from tapping along to. Perhaps the best track of the eleven has to be The Band of Moonlight Love. A pure instrumental song with the mandolin leading the way, it somehow keeps to the original beat of the rest of the album by including some most appealing picking by all involved that, once again, cannot stop the face from beaming a wide smile and the toes from tapping energetically.
After his very successful spot at the 2009 Southsea Folk & Roots Festival, this debut album must surely lead onto even greater things with further tracks similar like the ones found on this album surely appearing on future releases.'
Russell Hill, Maverick Magazine, UK
'"Schooldays Over" is an almost ubiquitous part of the folk repertoire and what you do with it as a performer - if you move away from the Dubliners version at all - becomes almost a statement of intent. What you get here is a muscular, angular, almost grating rendition that sits very well with the song's theme of getting a sharp introduction to the un-cossetted world of the workplace, the thankless nature of adulthood. It's a songwhose time is very likely coming round again...Hurt's so good!'
Greg McAteer, HOT PRESS music magazine, Ireland, Nov 08
'“Come Away Home” has a beautiful
balance between the 12-string,
the vocal, and the harmonium. The
ballad “The Bonny Light Horseman”
is of uncertain age and origin but
originally traced back to the 1600s,
but Hurt’s version of the lyric is more
up to date and he sings them in such
an honest way that it brings tears to
your eyes. The ballads on this record
are the real gems; in particular
the last two songs “The Band Of
Shearers” and ”Bogey’s Bonnie
Belle/Maggie Smith” are romantic,
touching and wonderful.
“The
Tallyman’s Lament” is worth listening
even if you are not into traditional
folksongs.'
LIMERICK EVENT GUIDE, Ireland, Issue 04 Jan 2009
‘The songs are lively with evocative lyrics and storytelling. The last track, "The Spider's Legs", is a wonderful instrumental composition that features impressively intricate guitar and fiddle work.’
NPR “Open Mic” review for “The Spider’s Leg’s” EP, USA, Oct 2007
‘Hurt reinterprets Scots and Irish music in a unique way - he plays as though he has 12 fingers on each hand and makes the strings sound as though they're made of clear crystal water and pure flames.’
Rena Maguire, presenter and producer, “NEW CELTIC SOUNDS”, FEILE FM, Belfast, Oct 2008
Born in Belfast, raised in Scotland and living in Dublin for many moons now, Robin James Hurt plays guitar like a ‘demon gadgie’ (Edinburgh slang). He also sings like a wee bird, and composes and arranges fine folky music.
In 2006, having spent 13 years as a professional guitarist working with all manner of bands, artists and projects - both famous and not-so-famous - Robin James Hurt decided to find his own voice and start performing solo, quickly drawing considerable interest in Ireland and abroad.
Following on from the highly successful 2007 release of “The Spider’s Legs” EP, Robin James Hurt is now proud to present his debut solo album, “The Tallyman’s Lament”. It’s a fine showcase for Robin’s unique re-interpretation of the lesser-spotted corners of Scots, Irish and English folksong, as well as his talent for composing beautiful original music.
Long fascinated by the history of the stories told in song from these islands, Robin collects these ballads and re-works their melodies and structures to make modern diffusions of the originals...traditional songs for the now. (thanks Rena!)
The powerful opening stomp of “Farewell To Tarwathie” is a fresh, kicking re-write of a Northeast Scots seafarers’ waltz. With Robin’s raucous vocal trading centre-stage with the fleet-footed fiddle of Adrian Hart (on loan from the popular combo Prison Love), it kicks off the album in fine style.
The gorgeous ballad “Come Away Home”, with lyrics from a traditional Scots ballad rewritten and set to Robin’s own music, is another obvious highlight, already an emotional live favourite with his burgeoning fan base (this track has been completely re-recorded for The Tallyman's Lament, bolder and better, after its appearance on The Spider's Legs EP excited so much interest...)
From the intricate picking of the self-penned title track to the dynamic breadth of “The Blackleg Miner”, where hell-bound driving rhythm guitar dives straight into the nimble picking of an Irish fiddle reel and back again without skipping a heartbeat, the album is also a wonderful introduction to Robin’s guitar playing talent.
“The Tallyman’s Lament” is a musically rich and highly listenable album, with a truly unique take on the traditional music of Ireland and Britain as well as great original tunes.
"THE TALLYMAN'S LAMENT" IS AVAILABLE:
1) BY DIGITAL DOWNLOAD WORLDWIDE, THROUGH iTUNES
2) ON CD, BY MAIL ORDER...
Just send a cheque or postal order which is valid in the Republic of Ireland and we'll send you a copy by return post...
Address to send to is 11 Airfield Court, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Pricing:
ROI : €12 Northern Ireland : £11
Great Britain : £12 Eurozone : €13 USA : $15
Other countries : send me a message here and we'll strike a deal :)
Robin James Hurt can perpetually be found performing live in Ireland and elsewhere around the world. Keep in touch here at myspace for up-to-date live schedules.
Come along to a show and hear Robin James Hurt shaping folk music into something new and picking a mean Martin guitar while he does it...
Choonz entered in an Irish Music Battle of the Bands!
Hi, Choonz have entered an Irish music battle of the Bands competition online...http://www.youtube.com/irishbotb#p/u/4/eE9RchAjBSE
The winners get 5 nights playing at the Monte Carlo Casino in Las Vegas. This would obviously be quite nice. Seriously though, we would really love this opportunity and this would give us the publicity needed to start our career as a touring band.
WE NEED YOUR VOTE!! Please take the time to forward this to some people in your address book. Voting ends in a few days so please don't delay. It only takes a minute to register your vote!
Anyway, enough grovelling from us. TO VOTE for us go to www.slbc.ie/involved/compreg and select Choonz. Cheers!
Hey Robin! How's it going? Been a while. Looks like you're still playing quite a bit. Awesome! Hoping when ya make it back this way I can swing down. I'm thinking I owe you a drink or two for the cd last time!
We're launching our new EP "Dazzling Mess" @ the academy 2 this Friday 27th November Doors 7pm €8 in, Support from Vodkopter and Urban Folk Project :-) Hope to see you there!!
howya robin, cheers for finding me, i hope you didnt mind me asking enda to give you the card i had to leg it on tuesday, can you send me on your number i would love to have you down to the night, rte will be there this week! so i am excited about that, i think you should have my number it was on the back. all the best. SJS
Michael Brunnock's in depth interview with journalist Suzanne Connolly is uploaded and available to watch. It can be seen either on Michael's front page www.myspace.com/michaelbrunnock or on Fairplay Collective's video page http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=64241695
Thanks for the request. I'm still in Riga (When you coming out?) but I'm back in the Big Smoke this coming week, so I'll give you a call and maybe hit the town for a Latte!!! Seamus
wherefore n foreart thou woost?for only thy shall be thy robin,sir robin of robinness n robustness of nests in nature,not only,the lonely,but moaney moaney too...no,not you!the song..tum tee tum tee toodle too,i wanna b like yoohoohoo,boo boo bee doo...;)
Thanks for the compliments Robin. I really like what you do too! myself and James (Bassist) present the nearfm sessions on near90fm so we're well acquainted with your stuff! hope all is well with you!
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..?
Michael Brunnock will be performing with his Irish Band "Little Palace" November 5th 8pm Whelans, Dublin November 7th 9pm Headfort Arms, Kells, Co. Meath November 12th 8pm The Backroom, Navan, Co. Meath Little Palace will be releasing their New Single "Beekeeper" from their latest album Invitation Time. We all hope to see you there. Keep Music Alive go hear a show.
Yeah definitely! I'll try to go to the Bleeding Horse on Sunday, depending on how my church choir re-audition goes (=p ), and Bankers on Tuesday for sure. I'm also set to play at Internation Bar's Glor Sessions this coming Monday the 12th.
Hi Robin, thank you for supporting me and my music! I wanted to let you know that my new single, "Live For Today", will be out on the 12th of October! The new album, "Fragile", is due out in November. http://www.tanjamaritsa.co.uk
