Poor Man's Heaven

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk review
Seth Lakeman's fourth solo album, Poor Man’s Heaven, moves him ever closer to the mainstream, his frantic fiddle playing backed with a small, tight band fully aware of the power they generate. But the Dartmoor-based folk singer still digs into local folklore for material. The pounding opener "The Hurlers" refers to an ancient stone formation in Cornwall, while "Solomon Browne" commemorates the more recent loss with all hands of the Penlee lifeboat - Lakeman knew some of the bereaved as a schoolboy. Clearly a larger recording budget--his breakthrough record, 2004’s Mercury nominated Kitty Jay, was recorded in his kitchen for three hundred quid--hasn’t mollified his Saturnine tendencies. Having emerged from the purist folk scene, rather than the more chilled folktronica side, Lakeman must now be wondering how far he can go. The jaunty "Race To Be King" features maybe the loudest Jew’s harp ever recorded, while Kathryn Roberts' haunting backing vocals on "Cherry Red Girl" add depth (though he might be overdoing it on the old red though, included songs called "Crimson Dawn" and "Blood Red Sky"). The title track though is the giveaway, a blatant and undeniably effective reminder that Led Zeppelin defined the heavy folk-rock crossover decades ago. Lakeman yelps like a West Country Robert Plant, sounding like a man with stadia in his sights.--Steve Jelbert

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-09-21 rating:
A Disappointment
I've tried, I really have but I do not like this. All the tracks are very similar. There is no light and shade. It's completely overproduced. Where is the fiery fiddling which brought him to so many people's attention.
He is definitely moving full speed to pop stardom. I"m beginning to think that Seth Lakeman's best album will always be Kitty Jay.

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review by: brainy_marge date: 2008-09-08 rating:
Excellent modern folk/rock blend
I bought this having heard only one track - I'll Haunt You. I wasn't disappointed. Other favourites of mine are "The Hurlers" - a foot-stomping track and the poignant "Solomon Browne", which tells of the Penlee lifeboat tragedy. Well worth buying, a great listen.

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review by: date: 2008-09-08 rating:
Formulaic
I had high hopes for this, but as it turns out it is a big let down. It sounds like Seth has got into a rut as there is none of the imaginativeness that made Kitty Jay and Freedom Fields so distinctive. I can only agree with the other reviewer who said that all the tracks sound the same. It sounds like it was written to a formula: fiddle:check, guitar:check, drum:check: now Seth just sing the last track over again and we'll call it something diferent 'cause no one will notice. Can I have my money back?

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review by: Female Fantasy Fanatic date: 2008-09-05 rating:
A song about whale hunting.....?
Suprisingly, although the topic of whale hunting always invokes a sense of fury in me, Race To Be King is one of my fave tracks on this album! Having been introduced to the dashing Mr Lakeman via a friend sending me Lady Of The Sea, I looked him up and booked tickets to a gig in Cardiff earlier this year.

Needless to say, after that show I became a fan for life. I went out and purchased Freedom Fields and more recently Poor Mans Heaven. Hooked.


review by: DOGG date: 2008-08-30 rating:
Folk from the West Country say......
The murky world of folk purists is a place I would never dare to venture but as a fan of folk music, this is a perfect mix of a rockier roots-sound and folky laments and shanties.

In fact....that intro sounds a little too folky already,Lakeman has carved a career out of sterling tunes,traditional instruments and clever lyrics, with "Poor Mans Heaven" he has bettered his 2006 classic "Freedoms Fields".

The feel to this LP is heavier,more robust but the mandolins,violins and acoustic guitars still dominate,the upright bass and acoustic drums form a bedrock of cornish granite.

2008 has seen some great folk records and Lakeman has added an other to that list...!

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Music . Styles . World & Folk . Folk Bestsellers
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