Brobdingnagian Bards, A Faire to Remember (Gunn and McKee, 2001)  

 

Bottling the spirit of a live performance within the confines of a studio album is a delicate matter. Too much energy leaves a harsh taste, while an over-produced CD is too smooth and bland. One has to capture the correct accents and highlights from a live performance for the CD to preserve their flavor, keeping the enthusiasm and fun of a live show intact.

A Faire to Remember, the Brobdingnagian Bards‚ latest CD, captures the heart and spirit of some of Marc Gunn and Andrew McKee's favorite songs while placing the stamp of their distinctive style on each tune. The result is an entertaining collection, ranging from old standards like "Wild Rover" to humorous modern tunes like the "Do Virgins Taste Better Medley" and Monty Python's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." The Bards‚ light-hearted approach conveys their infectious enthusiasm for this style of music. Each tune delivers a memorable performance. The CD also showcases McKee's fine recorder work, with several tunes arranged to highlight his playing. The recorder performance in "Wild Mountain Thyme," in particular, is outstanding.

Gunn and McKee love this music; their enthusiasm shows in the mood and tone of each piece. The kazoo solo (courtesy of the Bedlam Bards) in "Wild Rover" is fantastic; it's the perfect compliment to the tune's spirit. An entertaining spoken interlude ("A Faire-ly Informative Interlude") and occasional voice-overs add the feel and improvisational character of a live performance to A Faire to Remember. If the CD has a weakness, it's that the Bards‚ energy and enthusiasm work best on the faster paced tunes. The slower tunes just don‚t sustain the album's feel as well.

Marc Gunn and Andrew McKee's A Faire to Remember is a fun and entertaining collection, a mix of traditional and newer tunes that goes a long way towards recreating the atmosphere of a Renaissance Faire performance. A list of their favorite Renaissance Faire memories in the liner notes compliments the music nicely, and helps set the proper background for the songs. The CD is filled with an infectious enthusiasm that will draw you in and have you singing along in short order. Be sure to look for the Brobdingnagian Bards at a Renaissance Faire near you

[Eric Eller]