The Coast Of Malabar

For three decades now Jimmy Crowley has been ploughing the most individual of furrows, unafraid to debunk myths, legends or the conventionally popular.

But Crowley is also a song collector, writer and performer of serious pedigree, who, as in the case of this album, is no slouch when it comes to mining for gold.

All of the material on The Coast Of Malabar has connections to maritime life, Jimmy's abiding passion. The title track has previously been covered by Ry Cooder with The Chieftains, but not like this, and while there are songs – such as ‘Fiddlers Green’ and ‘Low Lands Low’ – which would be quite well known, they are performed with such individuality and attention as to be recast in their entirety.

The material is allowed to breathe, due not alone to Crowley's vocal delivery, but also to the construct of the arrangements which are at once both sparse and rich.

Essential listening for those who still care about where folk music is going.