Burning Sun
Hilary James - CD review  

Rock 'n' Reel
A solo album from Hilary James has been a long time coming. Her work with Simon Mayor on his mandolin albums has been that of a side musician with her vocals occasionally creeping in to add to what were very successful instrumental albums. Now she has issued 'Burning Sun' and its an unexpected pleasure in more ways than one.

Using the James/Mayor base of instrumental highlights she has subtly added sax and harmonica to the basic string line-up. With her own sweet voice given free rein its an album which covers a wide range of material. From such diverse sources as traditional English and Scots ballads to their French counterparts to madrigals and straight classical pieces. It also has original material which adds to a fascinating collection. The inclusion of madrigals and the Handel piece 'Lascia ch'io Pianga' are not disparate, as her voice, though folk based, has the range and power to cover these perfectly. It has some wondrous moments like the John Donne inspired 'Busy Old Fool' and the extended trad 'Two Sisters' carrying on where Clannad's verson left off.

The instrumental line up has some deft touches on mandolin and fiddle from Simon Mayor while the sax and harmonica are both used with stunning simplicity and accuracy. The result is a beguilingly charming album that evokes the old Consulate advert 'cool as a mountain stream' and pleasantly refreshing. Beautiful stuff. More please.
John O'Regan, Limerick


Northern Echo
Hilary James is a name that will be familiar to fans of mandolin maestro Simon Mayor, but a new name to many others. This week Hilary releases her first CD "Burning Sun" (Acoustics CDACS016). She has one of Britain's finest voices. The album is an unusual mix of James' originals, traditional tunes and songs and a classical piece from Handel. Hilary's sweet, pure voice is superb throughout, whether vocalising in English, French or Italian, and the music is superb. The multi-talented Simon Mayor supplies stunning mandolin passages as well as guitar, fiddle and whistle and Alan Whetton colours the sound with bursts of saxophone. An intelligent release well up to the standards we have come to expect from Acoustics Records.
Michael Ollier


Folk North West
Wonderful - every track superb. For me, the best album of the 90's so far. Oozes class, with arrangements tailored like Saville Row suits. Take a hammer to the piggy bank and rush to your nearest record store. Buy, buy, buy.
Dave Day  
 


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England
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www.acousticsrecords.co.uk