Shovel Dance Collective - The Water is the Shovel of the Shore (2022) [Hi-Res]

To travelling communities throughout Europe, to whom traditional music owes a great debt for their work in the production, proliferation, and conservation of so much music. And specifically Mary Delaney, from whom we heard In Charlestown there Dwelled a Lass, and who lived in London for much of her life.

To the writer and educator Roy Brummell, formerly of the University of Guyana who first relayed the tune of Ova Canje Water to Mataio. Also to the great Guyanese folklorist and poet, Wordsworth McAndrew, who collected Ova Canje Water and many other Guyanese folk songs. In so doing he helped to keep alive a folksong tradition and repair Guyana’s cultural self which had been so brutalised by British colonialism.

To Mike O’Malley for his knowledge, time and skill in recording our full band version of ‘The Bold Fisherman’ which opens this release. Also to the great Copper family who have so well looked after and proliferated that song, and which is now inextricably linked to them.

Personnel
Alex Mckenzie low whistle
Daniel S. Evans bowed cittern, cello, pipe organ, pump organ
Fidelma Hanrahan harp
Jacken Elswyth banjo, mountain banjo, shruti box
Joshua Barfoot accordion, hammered dulcimer, voice
Mataio Austin Dean voice
Nick Granata pump organ, voice
Oliver Hamilton violin
Tom Hardwick-Allan bass harmonica, trombone

Tracklist:
1.01 - Shovel Dance Collective - I: The Bold Fisherman (2:37)
1.12 - Shovel Dance Collective - III: Clergy of Southwark Cathedral and St Magnus the Martyr bless the Thames, the organ at St Mark's Clerkenwell, a fence at North Greenwich sings in the wind, distant cranes at Silvertown (3:24)
1.02 - Shovel Dance Collective - I: Thames waters off Greenland Dock, The Weary Whaling Grounds, (4:14)
1.03 - Shovel Dance Collective - I: Junkyard work next to Dartford Creek, rigging and reeds at Erith Marina, The Bold Benjamin, waterfowl on the Darent (3:01)
1.04 - Shovel Dance Collective - I: The Herrings Head (1:09)
1.05 - Shovel Dance Collective - I: Water pump in Ladywell, Waves on the Shore, a Creek on the Llŷn Peninsula (3:15)
1.06 - Shovel Dance Collective - II: In Charlestown there Dwelled a Lass (6:10)
1.07 - Shovel Dance Collective - II: Camera flash on the Deptford foreshore, The Rolling Waves, crashing spring waves by the Cutty Sark (4:31)
1.08 - Shovel Dance Collective - II: Lovely on the Water, lapping waters by Tower Hill (2:21)
1.09 - Shovel Dance Collective - II: Pump organ bellows being pushed by hand, the River Chess trickles, The Watermans Dance (2:37)
1.10 - Shovel Dance Collective - III: Tourists feed gulls outside City Hall, The Bold Fisherman (2:31)
1.11 - Shovel Dance Collective - III: Ferry east from London Bridge, A Fishermans’ Song for Attracting Seals / The Full Rigged Ship (3:47)
1.13 - Shovel Dance Collective - III: The Wild Goose Shanty, slapping Thames water under a bridge, The Drowned Sailor, crashing waves at Deptford foreshore (4:02)
1.14 - Shovel Dance Collective - III: Waterfall and rain on the River Chess, Captain Kidd's Farewell to the Seas (1:30)
1.15 - Shovel Dance Collective - IV: Waters of the River Ravensbourne beside Elverson Road DLR station, Lowlands (4:02)
1.16 - Shovel Dance Collective - IV: The Cruel Grave, pump organs at Nick's House (3:14)
1.17 - Shovel Dance Collective - IV: The Grey Cock, Dan wading through Elverson Road DLR station tunnel (5:17)
1.18 - Shovel Dance Collective - IV: Ova Canje Water (1:41)