Harry's Gone Fishing
Leon Rosselson
Gadfly Records at <http://www.gadflyrecords.com>
REVIEW BY BILL NEVINS
Wry socialist-anarchism with a sharp historical eye and a taste for good, strong melody: that's the reputation of Leon Rosselson, most widely known for his song "The World Turned Upside Down", about the 17th century English revolutionaries called Diggers, which has been covered by Billy Bragg, Dick Gaughan and others.
This fine CD bolsters that reputation. Rosselson gives us a supplemental Diggers song, "You Noble Diggers All", featuring lyrics by the Diggers own prophet, Gerrard Winstanley. "Stand up now!", the song commands, against lords, gentry, clergy, lawyers and their "law of clubs". Rousing, indeed.
This is one of the most thoughtful "folk" albums you are likely to hear. Like Dick Gaughan's great records, it takes some paying attention to to get the full effect, but it's worth the effort and the time. Augmented by Martin Carthy on guitar and a fine, subtle backup group, Rosselson offers touching songs of love and loss: "She Came From Out of Nowhere" and the self-analytical, grateful "Encore".
Rosselson's great strength is his eye for current history and the unfinished struggle of the poor against vicious attack. "Mercenaries" describes how it is money that drives all soldiers to do what they do, for good, or, all too often, for very grave ill. "Postcards from Cuba" is a long, fascinating meditation on the course of revolution and the ghost of Che, ending with hope despite disillusionment and the defiant assertion that "Cuba is alive today".
Some listeners may find Rosselson overly wordy or too self-conscious. He certainly bares his soul, and his admirable political consciousness, for all to see. His vocabulary and erudition are daunting; no simple songs here and the lyric sheet is essential.
But if you are willing to get in there, take a bite and chew on these songs, I think you will find them nourishing. Good stuff for the brain and the soul.