On The Other Hand….

Description

On The Other Hand…. is the debut album by the British/French Celtic folk duo Rodney Cordner & Jean-Pierre Rudolph, released on Pilgrim Records (Holland) in 1983. The album was recorded at Stable Studio, Arnhem, Holland, and produced by Siebren Rijpma. It’s considered the fourth album by Rodney Cordner.

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Tell Me Stranger”
A2. “Danny Farrell”
A3. “Mad, Mad World”
A4. “Harvest Home”
A5. “No Longer Dead”
A6. “Patti’s Song”

Side Two
B1. “Mountains”
B2. “Awake”
B3. “Praisin’ Paddy”
B4. “Delight In The Lord”
B5. “The Rights Of Man (Paddy John’s Swarbsody)”
B6. “Deliverance Song”

There’s a certain patchiness to this album. But that’s brilliant patchiness, not irritating patchiness. Sometimes, “patchy” is not a negative but a positive and I find that to be the case with this album. Let’s put it this way – even a badly sewn patchwork duvet will keep you supremely warm at night! I’m not sure how many albums came between “Don’t Look Away” and “On the other Hand”, but 7 years of gigging and writing and life’s and the Lord’s experiences and a certain growth through battle hardenedness ( if there is such a word ! ) combined to produce this strong offerring. Patchy, but strong…

Obviously, Cordner getting together with Jean Pierre Rudolph in ’81 was a truly significant event. I love Rudolph’s violin playing and for me he falls firmly into a line of great French violinists, some of whom have been criminally obscure (David Rose, Jean Luc Ponty, Stephanne Grappelli). Funnilly enough though, his playing, while being stellar, inventive and beautifully melodic (I’d have him in my band anytime!!), isn’t flashy and upfront alot of the time and generally throughout this album has the effect of being there in almost unnoticed fashion (until you really listen hard) while Cordner’s gruff vocals, biting lyricism and sturdy strumming seem to be the centrepiece of everything. Mind you, Rudolph plays a few other things on the album too and one has to keep in mind that this was very much (and still is) a duo. His work on the mandolin, flute and tin whistle excels as he provides riffs, countermelodies, atmospherics and more and indeed is as integral to the songs as Cordner’s efforts.

This is Celtic/Irish folk, but it kind of incorporates other influences too, that take it away from any narrow definitions. For example, the superb «Delight in the Lord» is a kind of meditative Catholic tune by John Michael Talbot and isn’t really Celtic at all (one of my best loved songs, I tried for years to get this accepted as a song in a former church, but no one ever picked it up! So it retired gracefully !!); «The Rights Of Man» is an ingenious fusion of Irish folk and reggae, complete with violin, mandolin and bass guitar … but no drums. It should be hilarious but it’s a timeless and highly original piece, while «Harvest Home», «Praisin’ Paddy» and «Deliverance Song» are as left field Irish as you can get.

I’ve long found Cordner to be one of the most hard hitting Christian lyricists that I’ve heard and he doesn’t pull his punches, covering things like sharing in the sufferings of Christ, neglect and abuse, our Western selfishness in stark contrast to the believers we encounter in the Book of Acts, down and outs, family breakdowns, violence and drug abuse, and even where he hasn’t written the song lyrics (like «Delight in the Lord» and «Danny Farrell»), he delivers them as though he has. He possesses this wonderful voice, full of biting humour, passion, sardonic sarcasm … and joy. Yes, joy, because balanced against showing the world and the church in it’s sometimes true and shocking light, there is reality, love and a contentment that only the Lord can really give in a troubled planet such as ours. For those that haven’t really experienced it it probably seems like either a great contradiction or a very blinding ignorant cop out but actually, it isn’t. It’s a paradox and a gift. Cordner’s love of Ireland either directly or indirectly turns up in two thirds of the songs and it comes as no surprize to hear that he has done lots to bring the warring communities of the North together.

God’s faithful solidness and love also comes through very strongly and challengingly throughout. Perhaps «Mountains» sums up the Christian journey better than most songs I’ve ever heard. If there was a song that taught one to embrace difficulty and learn that God provides hardship for the strengthening of those that love him, it’s this one.

I could go on and on for a long time about the merits of “On the other Hand” but to be honest, while I love to hear people’s opinions about songs and albums, nothing beats actually listening to them. This one may not hit straight away but like an efficient thief… [grimtraveller, 2008]

CREDITS. Produced by Siebren Rijpma. Recorded and mixed down at Stable Studio, Arnhem, Holland, and engineered by Roel Toering. All songs arranged by Rodney Cordner and Jean-Pierre Rudolph. Artwork and Sleeve Design by Marjorie Cardwell/Don Koekkoek. Production: Pilgrim Records Holland.

Musicians: Rodney Cordner (Vocal, Guitar, Bodhran), Jean-Pierre Rudolph (Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, Whistles, Bass, Backing Vocals, Strings on track A5). Thanks to: Siebren Rijpma for Bass and Backing Vocals, Roel Toering for Bass, Frank van der Gaag for the “Ting”.