Personnel: Kate Rusby (vocals, guitar, piano); Roger Wilson (vocals, guitar); Tim O'Brien (vocals, mandolin); Dave Burland (vocals); Darrell Scott, Ian Carr (guitar); John McCusker (banjo, fiddle); Andy Cutting (accordion); Conrad Ivitsky (acoustic bass).
Recorded at Pure Records Studio, Mortimer Heights, Yorkshire, England.
Personnel: Kate Rusby (vocals, guitar, piano); Roger Wilson (vocals, guitar); Tim O'Brien (vocals, mandolin); Dave Burland (vocals); Michael McGoldrick (whistling, flute); Darrell Scott, Ian Carr (guitar); John McCusker (banjo, fiddle); Andy Seward (double bass); Francis MacDonald (percussion).
Recording information: Pure Records Studio, Mortimer H; Temple Records Studio, Midlothi.
Arrangers: Ian Carr ; Kate Rusby; John McCusker.
Kate Rusby sings traditional folk songs of the British Isles in a sweetly mournful mezzo-soprano with a slight Scots burr, and plays acoustic guitar with simple yet elegant grace. On 1999's SLEEPLESS, she spins tales of love gone terribly wrong such as the chilling "The Cobbler's Daughter," and the heartbreaking "All God's Angels," with the subtle accompaniment of acoustic bass, mandolin, fiddle, flute and accordion.
Rusby duets with American folk/bluegrass singer Tim O'Brien on "All God's Angels," and ventures beyond the traditional folk realm with a deeply affecting version of Iris DeMent's portrait of small-town life, "Our Town." A perfect album for quiet reflection and rainy afternoons.
Professional Reviews
Q (1/00, p.86) - Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1999."
Q (11/99, p.162) - Included in Q Magazine's Best Folk Albums of All Time - "...the kind of fresh, direct voice not heard in folk for years. She chooses trad material cleverly, she can write, looks the part and...currently appears unstoppable."
Q (8/99, pp.112-3) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...folk flavour of the moment....her voice is gorgeous throughout. Everything they're saying about Kate Rusby is true."
Dirty Linen (2-3/00, pp.70-1) - "...the current darling of the U.K. folk scene....wonderfully refreshing....a clean and crisp sound....Easily one of the best and most enjoyable recordings of the year."
Mojo (Publisher) (1/00, p.31) - Included in Mojo Magazine's "Best Folk Albums" of 1999.
Mojo (Publisher) (7/99, p.107) - "...seductive, understated honesty....[Rusby's] storytelling skill with traditional song is remarkable..."
