Description
With a unique sound that subtly balances sexy blues, fiery world sounds and stirring yet delicate ballads of lost souls and desperate times, Myriad is a duo cannot be easily overlooked.
From blues on the bouzouki to bluegrass on the cello, Myriad are not afraid to move beyond the traditions from which they have come. This has resulted in a style of music that is not easily categorised.
Gordon Wallace and Hannah Croke are renowned for their ability to play multiple instruments including cello, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, harmonica, bodhran and stomp box. With stunning dexterity, these instruments support Hannah’s powerful vocals that belt out the duo’s poetic tales with a sound that does not reflect her tender age of 23. Behind this sits Gordon’s subtle and unique guitar, providing an often mesmerising mix of rhythm and melody.
Myriad – Day’s End
CD review by Tony Smith – TN178
TN429-26 – $25
Hannah Croke and Gordon Wallace show great ensemble in this 2006 album.
They share the writing credits for lyrics and tunes for all tracks, except where noted.
James Croke and Marco Ianellio contribute lyrics.
The title track, ‘Day’s End’ (Lyrics by Marco Ianellio, Music Croke) sets the mood well: ‘On the night that I was born/ I saw my day’s end/ Now I walk the night/ To never see the dream again’.
The harmony is strong and the guitar interlude is a feature.
‘Six Foot Cold’ (Wallace) is gentler and simpler with Croke’s clear voice warning: ‘Hold on, to everything that you’ve got’.
As with nighttime and frost, the natural element of the wind is the mover here.
‘Man With a Limp’ (Croke) is a rapid recitative tale of regret and in ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ (Croke) we encounter a one eyed man.
Initially, these tracks might suggest some negativity, but the latter turns into a cabaret style lament about the exploitation of difference by voyeurs.
‘Fool’s Gold’ (Wallace) says that ‘the more I look, the less I seem to find’.
The pot of gold might be illusory but the song is not.
I like this one best of all.
The lilting notes by Croke, the harmonies and Wallace’s banjo make this a high quality track.
‘Standing at the River’ (Croke) returns to the nature theme.
Riverside encounters feature in a number of tragic folk songs.
‘68 Days without Water’ (Wallace) takes up this theme, but this time the elements rather than handsome strangers cause concern.
In ‘Ilala on the Lake of Stars’ (Wallace), ‘the fish are gone, nets come up empty’.
This song asks for a safe return, for ‘the wind is up/ With a high swell running/ That’s turned this placid lake of stars/ Into a lake of storms’.
The lyrics to this song are the most direct and meaningful and Croke’s voice is perfect for this tale of caution and longing.
Croke’s lead in to ‘Unholy Deed’ (Lyrics by James Croke, Music Hannah Croke) is a feature of this slow bluesy song.
It is perhaps the finest cello playing on the album, deep and soulful.
Again, the element, rain, is central, cleansing and washing away personal errors.
But never fear, ‘Dust’ (Lyrics Hannah Croke, Music Croke and Wallace) returns us to rocks, leaves and the wind ‘moaning wretchedly’.
Of all the songs for which Croke wrote the lyrics, this one seems most evocative.
You feel the wind as a ‘screen door bangs’ and smell the earth as the rain falls as ‘warm tear drops’.
But most of all, it is the heat that almost dries out your lips.
‘Hush Little Baby’ (Croke) makes a pleasant ending with Croke singing and playing gentle piano.
Not only do Wallace and Croke alternate tunes and support one another, they also show close co-operation in collaborating on the music for ‘Dust’ and Croke supplied music for Wallace’s ‘Unholy Deed’.
There are two evocative instrumentals.
‘Midnight Frost’, which makes a nice overture, and the more driving beat of ‘Bluegrease’, are both by Wallace.
Croke leads with cello on both tracks and Wallace’s guitar and banjo make very ‘bluegrass’ contributions to this foot tapping piece.
Throughout, Croke plays cello, bouzouki, bodhran, piano and sings.
Wallace plays guitar, stomp box, bass, bouzouki, mandolin and sings.
Despite the sleeve photographs which show two smiling happy people, the songs on this album mostly have serious themes.
While the duo’s name might suggest an unwieldy range of subjects, the focus is always clear and bright.
The variety is such that every listener should find something to enjoy in this album.
Ed. Myriad have two albums available for sale from the Trad&Now website.
Tracks from both of the albums may be heard from time to time on Trad&NowLive!
