Dando Shaft – Shadows Across the Moon

 

Dando Shaft – Shadows Across the Moon

by Pete Clemons

There was a time when folk rock was as equal in importance to the blues, country and contemporary rock music. Where traditional folk music, such as jigs and reels was almost non-rhythmic, folk rock was folk music underpinned by bass and drums or other percussive instruments.

Additionally, folk rock tended to take the simple, direct songwriting style of folk music and attempted to combine it with a rock & roll backbeat. One of the most distinctive elements of folk rock is the chiming, ringing guitar hooks, coupled with clear vocal harmonies.

And these qualities are demonstrated magnificently on a recently released live album, titled 'Shadows Across the Moon' and released by one of the leading exponents in the folk rock genre.

Dando Shaft came together during 1968. That said, the earliest gig date I have for them was during September 1969, when they played The Radford Hotel Folk Club. But I digress.

Dando Shaft were at their most active and prolific from 1969 through to the end of 1972. Unlike a lot of groups from the folk rock genre, Dando Shaft remained totally acoustic. No electric instruments were ever involved in their recordings or performances.

Even after that the band folded the musicians involved would occasionally reform as they did for a new album in 1977 and an unforgettable evening upstairs at Whitefriars Monastery during May 1993.

Before that particular reunion, however, Martin Jenkins, Kevin Dempsey, Dave Cooper, Roger Bullen, Ted Kay along with timely contributions from violinist, Chris Leslie (if Fairpost Convention) reconvened and performed magnificently for a series of gigs held in Italy during March 1989.Unlike the Whitefriars performance, the Italian venture was captured on tape, and has recently been given a fresh new CD release.

Selections for 'Shadows Across the Moon' are from across the entire Dando Shaft output. Each of their albums has been represented here.

The interplay of instruments and vocal harmonies are, at times, simply breath taking. This whole album grabs your attention from the off. There is also, to these ears at least, an added depth to the songs that you fail to hear in the original recordings.

Despite some positive reviews, Dando Shaft remained commercially unsuccessful. But they did leave us with an extensive and, still today, an impressive catalogue of music. Not only is 'Shadows Across the Moon' an outstanding release it is, in my opinion, a valuable piece of musical history.

Tracklist

1 Railway
2 Rain
3 If I Could Let Go
4 Sometimes
5 Feel Like I Want To Go Home
6 Cold Wind
7 Road Song
8 Shadows Across The Moon
9 Riverboat
10 Kingdom
11 Coming Back To Stay