My Barometer is Right (But the Weather is Wrong)

Description

My Barometer is Right (But the Weather is Wrong) is an album by a British folk duo consisting of Pete Ryder & Sian Harry of Cair Paravel fame, independently released in 2011. The album was recorded and produced at “The shed down the bottom of the garden”, Bellingham, Northumberland. All songs written by Peter Ryder except track 8 written by Paul Denman.

As Cross Rhythms has observed more than once, Northumberland-based folkster Pete Ryder is an acquired taste. Not everyone can relate to his gruff, rather eccentricly pitched vocals while his songs often need the most careful listen to grasp their meaning and message. But this must surely be the Ryder album which makes new additions to the small but loyal band of Ryder followers and is to my ears the best album the grizzled veteran has ever recorded. For a start, Pete’s winning way with words is clearly demonstrated here, from the witty title track to the enigmatic «The Last Of The Light» to the C S Lewis-inspired «Light Behind The Sun». Currently my favourite is the laconic «Shopping At Ikea» but wherever you dip into this album you will find his usual mix of spiritual insights and surreal flights of fancy. What takes the album up to the next level is that Pete has addressed the production problems that beset many of his earlier albums. Gone is the demo quality sounds of old and the folk roots vibe is deftly executed and cleanly engineered. What takes ‘My Barometer’ up to the heavenlies is the return of Pete’s ’70s musical compatriot Sian Harry. Her haunting soprano adds immensely to the raw appeal of Ryder’s vocalising and whether singing lead or providing intuitive harmonies Sian’s performance is near to faultless. The whole thing comes in a beautifully designed fold-out digipak. Wonderful stuff. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, April 2011]

CD tracklist:

01. The Last Of The Light
02. My Barometer Is Right (But The Weather Is Wrong)
03. The Procession
04. Mars And Venus (Squabble Song)
05. All The Sorrow
06. An Hour After Dark
07. The Worm In The Well
08. The Gerbils’ Resurrection
09. Shopping At Ikea
10. You, Me And Charles Darwin
11. Bones In The Chimney
12. Sister Alcohol
13. One More Step Upon This Mountain
14. The Light Behind The Sun

Note: CD housed in a tri-fold digipack.