The first time
June Tabor and
Maddy Prior made a duo recording, it was released under their names and was entitled
Silly Sisters. On this, their second album,
Silly Sisters is the name of the group. Officially, it still consists of just
Tabor and
Prior, but most tracks also feature Breton guitarist
Dan Ar Braz, Welsh harpist and keyboardist
Huw Warren, and various other guests. As with their first album, the program is a winning mix of traditional and modern British folk music. An eerie and haunting arrangement of
Andy Irvine's "Blood and Gold" is followed immediately by an almost African-sounding instrumental by
Ar Braz;
Tabor and
Prior perform a brief a cappella "catch" by
Henry Purcell entitled "Cakes and Ale"; and the traditional "Hedger and Ditcher" shows up in an arrangement that features both bagpipes and soprano saxophone. But interesting as things get instrumentally,
Tabor and
Prior's almost telepathic musicality and sharp, reedy voices are always at center stage, and the songs are always well served by the arrangements. ~ Rick Anderson