Strange News. 2013.

All Things Are Quite Silent: traditional song collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sussex, 1904. Le Petit Chien / The Long Drive: schottishes by Andy Cutting. Malique: a bourrée in 2/4 time by Gregory Jolivet. Strange News: is the traditional song The Blacksmith which was collected in southern England in the early 20th century; the tune at the end is the traditional English tune/song Lovely Joan. Falco: English rant step dance tune by Paul James. The Muffler / Bhaskar’s: mazurkas by Jon Swayne and Barn Stradling. Black and White Box / Ubu the King: schottisches by Jo Freya and Paul James. Searching For Lambs / Main Dans La Main : traditional song collected in southern England in the early 20th century; followed by a waltz, also in 5 time, by Gregory Jolivet. The Maple Tree / Glasshouse: mazurkas by Jon Swayne and Jo Freya. Billy Ruffian / The Schoolhouse: bourrées in 2/4 time by Paul James and Jon Swayne. Nelly Was A Milkmaid : traditional song collected by Cecil Sharp, Oxfordshire, 1911. The Diggers / Cotillon: a rondeau by Paul James, the tune in the middle, Cotillon, is from the Wm. Vickers Mss c1770 and can still be heard as an Avant-deux dance in Poitou, France, and in Wallonie, Belgium. Shed Number 9 / Le Vicaire: schottishe by Jon Swayne, Le Vicaire is a traditional schottishe from the Auvergne, France.

Andy Cutting - diatonic button accordion, triangle. Jo Freya – vocals, clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano and tenor saxophones, whistle. Paul James – border bagpipes, soprano and alto saxophones, whistle. Gregory Jolivet – alto hurdy-gurdy. Dave Shepherd – violin, octave violin. Barn Stradling – acoustic bass guitar, octave bass guitar. Jon Swayne – border bagpipes, soprano and alto saxophones.

Guest: Patrick Bouffard – hurdy-gurdy on The Diggers / Cotillon.

Produced by Blowzabella 2013. CD version mixed and mastered by Olivier Thillou, Chateauroux, France. MP3 / website version mixed and mastered by Paul James. Recorded by Paul James and Jon Swayne at Kennard Moor Drove, Coxbridge, Somerset, England (thanks to Sarah Orme) and in Franchesse, Allier, Auvergne, France (thanks to Patrick Bouffard and Violaine Jourdren). Vocals recorded by Neil Ferguson in Leeds, England. Design: Ali Ford at the EmSpace. Photography by Lieve Boussauw. Back cover photograph by Julien Wieser.