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Release date: May 6th,2016
Running time: 14:42, 4 tracks
Sailors Grave hail from Newcastle, New South Wales (Australia). They are Dave (Bean) Rumbler (double bass, lead vocals and banjo), Kris Arendse (guitars, vocals and mandolin), Donna Fisher (bagpipes, Highland whistle, vocals and percussion) and Gav Fisher (drums, vocals, bodhrán and djembé). I watched a live video on the Australian Folk Punk Scene facebook page and then I knew that I have to track them down. I found that they have released a 4 track EP last year and after a quick listening, I decided that the EP deserved to be reviewed at Celtic Folk Punk and More.
Sailors Grave “Baytin the Voyage” consists of 4 tracks: one original, one Scottish trad number, one cover of The Pogues and one cover of Flogging Molly. As you know, I prefer original stuff to covers. But this doesn’t mean that I don’t like covers. I enjoy then when they are not overexposed standards, or when the bands have really re-arranged the song in a new and fresh way. Having said that, Sailors Grave “Baytin the Voyage” EP is a brilliant Celtic punkabilly/rockabilly EP.
The title track “Baytin the Voyage” will catch you straightaway with its bagpipes and amazing rhythm section.
A lot of bands have covered “Loch Lomond” and this could be a bad choice. However, Sailors Grave rendition is really interesting. Obviously, the pipes are awesome, but the double bass and the drums are excellent too.
We all love Shane MacGowan’s songwriting, but other The Pogues members wrote classic songs. For instance, Terry Woods, together with his mate Ron Kavana, wrote “Young Ned of the Hill”. Sailors Grave give new life to this song with electric guitar and pipes.
The last song is a cover of “Drunken Lullabies”. I’m sure that every single Celtic punk band has played this song live. The banjo part is so catchy that normally all the covers are too faithful to the original. I was really impressed by Sailors Grave rendition the first time I listened to the song. It’s not the banjo which takes the lead, but the bagpipes. Well done boys (and girl)! That’s what I call a cover.
By the way, the fantastic EP artwork has been made by Dave Rumbler.
There is a big void on the bagpipes punk scene after the news that Black Tartan Clan are calling it quits. Fortunately, new bagpipes punk bands are emerging. Give Sailors Grave a try. If you like bands such as Craic Haus or 1916, then you’ll love Sailors Grave too.
Track listing:
1 – Baytin the Voyage 3:01
2 – Loch Lomond 3:59
3 – Young Ned of the Hill 3:35
4 – Drunken Lullabies 4:05
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Review by Kinksmarkham
