Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10
There will always be those who skulk in the garden of ignorance, who believe that history gives us nothing, that all that matters is the here and now and the future, gleaming bright or near dystopia it matters not which, that history is the death knell for advancement and is embroiled in nothing but the view point of Kings. There will always be those who see anything that came before their existence as not worth bothering about, their point of view skewed by the inner nagging thought that they just don’t have the patience to know where we come from and where it has been taking us all along.
Like a rose admired for its beauty, history in all its shapes and forms is a beast best viewed up close and personal, to explore what was once perhaps in vogue and give it a new meaning; history is always in flux, opinions change as much as Medieval King casts his eye over his court and sees new favourites bloom and old established romances, wither and die, plucked instead of nurtured.
The collaboration between Anna Tam and Emily Alice Ovenden is one such form of art that has found a way to change an historical point of view and open up the debate on just what did the Renaissance period and Medieval Times do in terms of music appreciation and whilst the Wilde Roses self- titled album won’t float the sense of the need for further exploration for some, it certainly does add a projection of the enormity of scale into which the music of old has influenced us today.
Mystery surrounds the ages gone, we may be able to hear what was played on the older instruments but there is very little evidence to show how it was appreciated at the time, all we can do is explore, rediscover perhaps the magic that once captivated courtly life and it is an exploration undertaken with great passion by the Wilde Roses.
The duo have made the songs on the album stand out, the highs and lows of the vocal range are intriguing, expounded upon, set alight by the dedication to the cause of imparting knowledge in the hope that others see the skill required to carry out the songs that were restricted by the time in which they were formed. Wilde Roses will not suit every taste, of that there is no disrespect to be seen, but for those who seek to further their education, who are not afraid to open up the case of exploration, Wilde Roses is a native plant in which to showcase and nurture.
Ian D. Hall