Tracks
1. Freedom on the Wallaby
2. Bare-Legged Kate
3. Denis O'Reilly
4. From the Bush
5. The Rabbiter's Song
6. Home Again and Free
7. I've Been Everywhere
8. The Outside Track
9. TAB Punters Song
10. If Hearts Are Stone
11. Woolloomooloo Lair
12. Lazy Harrys'
13. Waltzing Matilda
MP3 Download Samples
Biography
An album of Australian songs from Britain's pre-eminent Aussie bush band featuring the singing of Doug Jenner and the work of five highly experienced and accomplished musicians all of whom have played live with the band and with a range of high profile performers. The band have been presenting and promoting Australian music and culture at major British events for the past two years and this is their second CD.
The CD album Home Again And Free contains thirteen very different songs on this album, from the beautifully lyrical "Bare-legged Kate" by Aussie poet and songwriter John Dengate and the strident setting of Henry Lawson's "From the Bush" to the knockabout humour of "TAB Punter's song" and "I've Been Everywhere".
Two original songs from the pen of Doug Jenner are "Home Again And Free" and "If Hearts Are Stone" - the latter set roughly to John Gibbs' tune Irish Ways and Irish Laws and presenting stark images of Aboriginal Australia. Rounding off the recording is foot tapping versions of 'Lazy Harrys' and a rousing rendition of Australia's National Song 'Waltzing Matilda'.
Whilst the band utilises electric and electronic instruments, it still maintains the traditional 'bush' feel and incorporates in several songs the distinctive sounds of didgeridoo and lagerphone. The broad aim of the album is to enable listeners to appreciate and enjoy a range of songs within this particular idiom..
Reviews
If you like revival bush music from bands such as The Cobbers, Paradiddle or The Bushwackers then you will surely enjoy this CD.
It contains several staple songs of this genre such as “Denis O’Rielly”, “Wooloomooloo Lair”, “Lazy Harry’s” and “Waltzing Matilda”. It would be selling this band short to stop here however. Buckley’s Chance also branches out into other territory with success.
The CD contains an interesting version of the old Lucky Starr hit, “I’ve Been Everywhere”. The hero of the song no longer “humps his bluey” he carries a backpack, guess this is to make it easier for a younger audience to understand!
Buckley’s Chance also play a fine version of Stan Wakefield’s “The Rabbiter’s Song”.
The band also do justice to two John Dengate songs “The T.A.B. Punter’s Song” and “Bare Legged Kate”, a song John wrote about his mother’s childhood and upbringing in Gundagai.
The group performs a great version of “Freedom On The Wallaby” by Henry Lawson with the tune by Chris Kempster. This was my favorite track on the CD.
Another fine song was “The Outside Track”, also written by Henry Lawson.
The band has two songs written by band members included on the CD.
The title song “Home Again And Free” is a plaintive song which would reduce any expatriate Aussie to want to rush home.
“If Hearts Are Stone” is also a strongly delivered track which tackles the white view of history and argues that without reconciliation then the words of the National Anthem are meaningless. Powerful stuff indeed.
The CD sounds as if it was recorded live at times but the CD notes say it was recorded in a studio. You get a mixed bag from this CD of traditional and modern songs. It is well worth a listen and I enjoyed it and can recommend it, especially if you like a good “Bush Band”.
John Williams - Trad & Now
"This CD is a classic collection of great Aussie traditional folk music presented as fresh as ever. The resident master, Doug Jenner and the boys of Buckley's Chance are surely the best Australian music group active in the UK and Europe. "
Kelvin Fahey - Hardrush
"Many people at our gigs express surprise at the variety of material that we perform, all of it within the Australian traditional idiom The songs in this selection reflect such a diversity. They express broad themes of freedom, struggle, leaving home, mateship, distance and the quest for national identity. I hope that like me, you find them by turns spirited, stirring, sad, beautiful, moving and funny."
Doug Jenner.
The Facts
Name:
Home Again And Free
Home Again And FreeGenre: Folk, Bush Ballads
Folk, Bush BalladsRecorded: London, United Kingdom
Producer: Doug Jenner
Doug JennerStudio: EQ Studio, Ladbroke Grove UK
EQ Studio, Ladbroke Grove UKSales To: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, UK, USA
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, UK, USA Cat No. HRDM0005
HRDM0005
