Jack Rutter - This is something Constant

****
Jack Rutter's materpiece of storytelling 

Jack Rutter has completed his trilogy of albums that started with ‘Hills’ in 2017 and continued with ‘Gold of Scar and Shale’ two years later. So, a bit of a longer wait for this one and we certainly feel it was well worth the wait. A perfect way to complete that musical chapter showing the vast range of musical talent that Jack Rutter has to offer. The album opener is ‘Bold Nevison the Highwayman’, very much in the folk tradition of songs about well folk, people. It has a very traditional sound, with multi layers of instruments really taking you on a journey from the start.

‘Earl Scarslington’s Seven Daughters’ takes the pace down a bit, but no less captivating and shows you are in for a variety of sounds on this release, which is always a positive. The tracks are of the traditional found stories that Jack has put his own arrangements to. Jack Rutter has a very distinctive voice, with the Yorkshire accent very much coming through, compared to a lot of singers that almost lose their regional accent when they sing.

Sometimes tunes can be about times of the past, whilst this tune is ‘Sledburn Fair’ ends up in the pub in the summer and I am sure we can all relate to that and perhaps show the continuity of life over time. Now it wouldn’t be a traditional Folk album without a few tunes that end in a good death ‘Lord Maxwell’s last Goodnight’ does not disappoint those looking for it. The tune itself is a very strong sounding ballad further cementing this as an album with it’s roots in the past but with the production and arrangements very much bringing the sound into the present.

‘The Shepherd on the Mountain’, original collected by Cecil Sharp that Jack has put his own sound too, an uplifting love story. It was quite hard to stop the foot tapping during this number. I do very much like the way the album does move to ballad to toe tapper but in a natural way. The whole album seems to flow. After the dramatic laden sound of ‘James Atley and Sir Fenix’ we are back to an uplifting end in the shape of ‘Upon the mountains High’ and I’m pleased they finished with another toe tapper, and you should leave this album with a smile on your face. This truly was a wonderful album that keeps you hooked from start to finish, this trilogy may be finished but I very much hope Jack has his next album in the pipeline.

Review by Jon Cooper

Check Out! the Video for ' ‘Bold Nevison the Highwayman' Below...