Skin + Bone

Album Review

Martin Carthy joined by Dave Swarbrick again, for one of the best of their many collaborations. The touch on the acoustic guitars and fiddle is uncommonly nimble and lyrical, even for this duo, while the singing is rich and robust. From "The Sheep Stealer" to the Turlough O'Carolan-derived "Mrs. Bermingham," this collection carries the listener across myriad sounds, sources, and traditions, all distilled from acoustic guitar and fiddle. Other highlights include "The Skewbald" (which was adapted into dozens of American variations), the bracing "Carthy's Reel/The Return to Camden Town," and the rollicking "The Ride in the Creel." Swarbrick gets a workout on several tunes written for harp, and collector A.L. Lloyd's work is well represented, along with a handful of younger contemporaries.