“Hilary has a Rolls Royce of a voice, one of the defining sounds of English folk music”
STEVE RITCHIE Tanglefoot Canada
STEVE RITCHIE Tanglefoot Canada
“We had not seen Hilary Spencer solo before, but having been to several Artisan gigs her impressive performance came as no surprise to us. We enjoyed her total commitment to her serious songs and the sense of humour she shows in others.”
NORMAN WILSON Folk Northwest Magazine
NORMAN WILSON Folk Northwest Magazine
“Hilary Spencer’s voice is worth crossing mountains and deserts to hear”
STEVE EDGE organiser Rogue Folk Club Vancouver BC
STEVE EDGE organiser Rogue Folk Club Vancouver BC
“Hilary has a voice so soaring, so unapproachable and stunningly beautiful”
JIM FREWEN CASA Ambassador, Montreal PQ
JIM FREWEN CASA Ambassador, Montreal PQ
“Well, folks, you’ve just heard the finest solo unaccompanied singing you’ll ever hear”
KEITH GODFREY, organiser, Bridlington Folk Club
KEITH GODFREY, organiser, Bridlington Folk Club
“Just a quick line to say what a wonderful night it was last night. You are one of the best guests we have ever had, and that from a guy who does not give compliments lightly.
It’s hard to find a performer who sings well, entertains well, has a wide repertoire, has big personality and who communicates with an audience. You have all these. The audience is quite hard to please in that they want to be entertained, not just sung to. Many folk audiences are more interested in the songs than the entertainment value and the way they are performed. Not so at The Bridge.
Comment I heard included “What a voice!” “When are you getting her again?” “Isn’t she great?” “Why have I not heard her before?”
Can’t wait for the next CD, last one was great, let me know when it’s available. CU again soon I hope and again, a wonderful night.”
DAVE MINIKIN , organiser, The Bridge Folk Club, Newcastle upon Tyne
It’s hard to find a performer who sings well, entertains well, has a wide repertoire, has big personality and who communicates with an audience. You have all these. The audience is quite hard to please in that they want to be entertained, not just sung to. Many folk audiences are more interested in the songs than the entertainment value and the way they are performed. Not so at The Bridge.
Comment I heard included “What a voice!” “When are you getting her again?” “Isn’t she great?” “Why have I not heard her before?”
Can’t wait for the next CD, last one was great, let me know when it’s available. CU again soon I hope and again, a wonderful night.”
DAVE MINIKIN , organiser, The Bridge Folk Club, Newcastle upon Tyne
“Hilary Spencer moved us with her wonderfully rich voice, telling stories in song from tragedy to comedy. I hope we can see more of her in the future. Personally, I want to hear that voice singing the Blues.”
DIANE INGS Boston Folk Club UK
DIANE INGS Boston Folk Club UK
“I think we’d all agree that Hilary is pretty nigh irresistible”
DAVID KIDMAN Folk Roundabout Magazine
DAVID KIDMAN Folk Roundabout Magazine
“A wonderful evening with a quite remarkable singer”
MIKE EVERETT (review extract) The Bridge Folk Club Newcastle upon Tyne
MIKE EVERETT (review extract) The Bridge Folk Club Newcastle upon Tyne
“The vocal powerhouse of Artisan, Hilary is another returnee in solo guise. Don’t expect a po -faced acappella evening. Serious and silly, soaring and searing and searing”
BRIAN DALTON ,organiser, Croydon Folk Song CLub
AFTERIMAGE REVIEWS
“’Frobisher Bay’ is a masterpiece. The whole thing is truly truly great. If there is ANYTHING that will save this weary old world it’s art like yours”
PETER BERRYMAN songwriter and performer, Madison WI
PETER BERRYMAN songwriter and performer, Madison WI
“Hilary’s second solo album conveys very well her versatility in interpreting a typically wide range of material. Hilary displays her astounding, breathtaking vocal control throughout and her technique simply cannot be faulted”
DAVID KIDMAN review extract Folk Roundabout 2001
DAVID KIDMAN review extract Folk Roundabout 2001
“Although four additional instrumentalists and six extra singers are credited on this new rekease from Artisan’s Hilary Spencer it has the feel of a solo performance - and a very good solo performance at that. . .a deceptively simple style which makes this a welcome relief from the many overproduced CDs which regularly pop through my letterbox”
JIM MARSHALL review extract, The Folk Diary August 2001
“This is Hilary Spencer’s second CD and features a wide variety of songs from the traditional to a range of illustrious and industrious songwriters. Hilary’s singing is excellent and has been recorded and engineered to perfection.
The CD demonstrates Hilary’s versatility, passion, enthusiasm and humour in ample and equal proportions as promised on the sleeve notes. The guitar (George Norris) and the acoustic bass (Trevor Lines) find their rightful place and blend in beautifully on ‘Never Be The Sun’. Further enhancements on several tracks were provided by Keith Kendrick on concertina and an esteemed chorus lineup. However, it was great to hear such good songs as ‘Morley Main’ (Keith Marsden) and ‘I Once Lived In Service’ (Peter Bellamy) sung a cappella with great relish and such obvious enjoyment. In conclusion, this CD represents Hilary Spencer doing what she does best, indulging herself in the songs she has accumulated because she admires the style, the story, the sentiment, the songwriter and even the speed of the song. Indulge yourself. . .string a few words together at great speed so the postman can deliver your request for a CD with alacrity.”
FOLK NORTHWEST Autumn 2001
The CD demonstrates Hilary’s versatility, passion, enthusiasm and humour in ample and equal proportions as promised on the sleeve notes. The guitar (George Norris) and the acoustic bass (Trevor Lines) find their rightful place and blend in beautifully on ‘Never Be The Sun’. Further enhancements on several tracks were provided by Keith Kendrick on concertina and an esteemed chorus lineup. However, it was great to hear such good songs as ‘Morley Main’ (Keith Marsden) and ‘I Once Lived In Service’ (Peter Bellamy) sung a cappella with great relish and such obvious enjoyment. In conclusion, this CD represents Hilary Spencer doing what she does best, indulging herself in the songs she has accumulated because she admires the style, the story, the sentiment, the songwriter and even the speed of the song. Indulge yourself. . .string a few words together at great speed so the postman can deliver your request for a CD with alacrity.”
FOLK NORTHWEST Autumn 2001
“Anyone who has seen Artisan will know the voice of Hilary Spencer. She is an exceptional singer who with apparent ease is able to move from the strongly delivered ‘Broomfield Wager’ through the gentle poignancy of ‘Alice White’ to the absurdity of ‘My Husband’s Got No Porridge In Him’. A serious singer who does not take herself too seriously. There isn’t a track I dislike, my favourites being the haunting ‘Frobisher Bay’ and the amusingly serious ‘Why Am I Painting The Living Room?’ It’s a CD I’ll be playing again and I urge you to give it a listen no matter what your musical taste.”
“This is a delightful collection of songs beautifully sung and arranged by Hilary. She has a lovely singing voice but uniquely does not use it to swamp the song. Her version of Peter Bellamy’s ‘I Once Lived In Service’ and the traditional ‘Twa’ Magicians’ are riveting. . .this is a truly great album with a lovely balance of songs”
OML Folk London October 2001
OML Folk London October 2001
