Phyl Lobl – Alcyone

“After song collections that pay tribute to her sources and inspirations – and a retrospective (Bronzewing) reviewed back in MW #152 – Phyl has now brought out a very personal collection of her own carefully crafted songs. The most personal draw upon Phyl’s intense feeling for her late husband Geri – framing the CD from classical allusions to the tale of Alcyone (Halcyon) and Ceyx in the first track to the final tracks: Love Lie By Me and then Seal Upon My Heart. In between we have songs Phyl has written to specific projects – including seven tales of Tasmanian women dealing with the special problems of their multi-dimensional remoteness; three settings of verse – Lawson’s Fight at the Eureka Stockade (modified a little by Phyl’s teaching needs), Jock Graham’s coal mining ballad Man of the Earth and Kendall’s old classic Bell-birds) – as well as two of Phyl’s own songs arising from her environmental and social concerns – Ribbon of Life (?) for Melbourne’s Maribyrnong River and Right to Life – a chant for the environment’s rights!.
One particularly interesting track is Phyl’s song The Pride of the Land – a tribute to dance teacher, collector and enthusiast the late Shirley Andrews. By the way, Phyl tells me that she is rather hoping some keen dance crafter out there might use the song as a basis for a new dance in honour of Shirley’s great contributions to the place of social dancing in the Australian folk scene!
These different threads are all skilfully interwoven in the CD’s layout so that we hear a concert of fine songs in Phyl’s clear, direct style. There is never any suggestion that any song is self-indulgent – or just filling a space, but the messages they all carry come through as an honest and satisfying use of the folk music medium as what too many people forget it should be – the expression of all the aspects and concerns of the life of folk – now, just as much as back in history.” Review by Bob Bolton.