“LIQUORICE - UNPLUGGED” REVIEW
by Derek Walmsley
In County Durham, a pair of talented artists have been honing their distinctive mix of guitar and saxophone or clarinet around the local pubs and open mic nights for the last four years. As university beckons and they go their separate ways, an album has been recorded for posterity capturing the magic of this unique combination.
Craig Johnson and Ally Foster call themselves Liquorice and, as you might expect, there’s Allsorts of variety on this “Unplugged” CD recorded in the Summer of 2009.
Choosing seven of their favourites to sing from artists as diverse as the Moldy Peaches, Zutons, Bob Dylan, White Stripes and Lindisfarne/Alan Hull, three instrumental versions of tuneful hits add refreshingly different interludes.
The latter numbers, previously performed by Tom Jones, Oasis and The Animals, are It’s Not Unusual, Importance Of Being Idle and House Of The Rising Sun, imaginatively arranged and played on guitar plus saxophone or clarinet. The Alan Price keyboard arrangement on “House” gives way to impressive Ally Foster clarinet!
However, at the root of the album are the two-self penned tracks by Craig and Ally which both show real quality. Figure By The Road was Ally’s first song, written around a chord sequence recorded by Craig on guitar and, incredibly, first recorded a week after those tentative beginnings. This shows in the freshness of the performance and the song itself sounds like a long-lost folk classic.
Of equal merit is Craig’s rant at the Iraq war; A Million Can’t Be Wrong. Following in the footsteps of his hero Alan Hull, the lyrics get right to the point with a melody to match. Ally’s response adds effectively to Craig’s vocal in the chorus.
These two gems stand proud alongside the eclectic mix of covers, of which Candlelight, a Rod Clements collaboration from the latter days of Lindisfarne, is a stunning opener. Craig’s plaintive voice and guitar suit the subject matter, the song building as Ally’s clarinet and producer Brad Wilkinson’s percussion add to the mood.
Following on from Ally’s debut composition, the first Craig’n’Ally vocal duet on the record, Anyone Else, is an intimate version of the Moldy Peaches track from 2001.
Next up, Walk In The Sea is the first of two Alan Hull tracks, ending up on his solo “Phantoms” album in 1979. Peter Brophy Don’t Care had appeared on Lindisfarne’s “Fog On The Tyne” album back in 1971. Both are played simply but very effectively by just Craig on guitar.
The Zutons sprang out of Liverpool in 2004, Confusion being a highlight of their debut album. Ally’s sprightly version is beautifully sung and leads to an interesting Bob Dylan cover by Craig, One More Cup Of Coffee from Mr. Zimmerman’s 1976 “Desire” LP.
The album finishes in the best possible way with a great fun rendition of We Are Gonna Be Friends, the American duo White Stripes being outclassed by our own Craig’n’Ally!
The album flows really well. Both songs and instrumentals contrast with and complement each other. Nicely recorded and produced too; clear with good separation on the instruments and vocals. Whenever I think of Liquorice from now on, it will not be Bertie Bassett, but Craig Johnson and Ally Foster! I highly recommend this album from two artists with composing, arranging and performing skills far beyond their tender ages.
The duo have produced a suitably eye catching CD insert design too- and the green objects on the back cover of the CD (by the handwritten track listing) are apparently not apples but a small version of a Macarena. This is the percussion used on A Million Can’t Be Wrong, Confusion and Anyone Else!
Buy “Liquorice - Unplugged” immediately from www.liquoriceuk.com for the bargain price of £6.49 including postage.