Blowzabella
Country of origin:
England
Type of music generally:
Folk/traditional/instrumental/world music/dance involving a strange selection of acoustic instruments including hurdy-gurdies, bagpipes, saxophones, guitars, etc.
Status:
Most recent release, Two Score (2018)
See also:
BlowzabellaWikipedia's entry on Blowzabella
The Ectophiles' Guide's entry for Ancient Beatbox (a spinoff, consisting of Nigel Eaton and Paul James)
Comparisons:
Ancient Beatbox
Covers/own material:
Own and traditional
General comments:
I'm not really sure that they're suitable as ecto-fodder, but they're certainly strange and wonderful. (anthony@mh1.lbl.gov)
Recommended first album:
Vanilla
Recordings:
- Blowzabella (1982)
- Blozabella in Colour (1983)
- Bobbityshooty (1984)
- Tam Lin (with Frankie Armstrong, 1984)
- The Blowzabella Wall of Sound (1986)
- The B to A of Blowzabella (1986)
- Pingha Frenzy (live, 1987)
- A Richer Dust (1988)
- Vanilla (1990)
- Compilation (1982-1990) (1995)
- Octomento (2007)
- Dance (live, 2010)
- Strange News (2013)
- Two Score (2018)
Pingha Frenzy
Release info:
1987—P&C Some Bizarre
Availability:
U.K. (vinyl only)
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Nigel Eaton—hurdy gurdy
Paul James—bagpipes, saxophones
Ian Luff—cittern, bass guitar
David Roberts—melodeon
David Shepherd—fiddle
Comments:
Recorded live in Brazil. Entirely instrumental. Very raw and compelling sound on this one. (anthony@mh1.lbl.gov)
A Richer Dust
Release info:
1988—Plant Life Records
Availability:
U.K.
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Nigel Eaton—hurdy-gurdies
Jo Freya—voice, tenor and C-melody saxophones, whistles
Paul James—bagpipes, soprano saxaphone, rauschpfeife, whistles, darabuka, tapan, side drum, vocals
Ian Luff—bass guitar, cittern, darabuka, tapan, side drum
David Roberts—melodean, darabuka
David Sheppard—violin, viola d'amore
Jon Swayne—bagpipes, alto saxaphone
Comments:
Similar in flavor to Vanilla, though perhaps not quite as good. Recommended as a second buy. (anthony@mh1.lbl.gov)
Vanilla
Release info:
1990—Special Delivery Records
Availability:
U.K.
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Andy Cutting—melodeons, percussion
Nigel Eaton—hurdy-gurdies, cello, percussion
Jo Freya—vocals, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Paul James—soprano saxophone, bagpipes, rauschfeife, percussion
Ian Luff—bass guitars, cittern, guitar, percussion
Jon Swayne—alto and soprano saxophones, bagpipe
Comments:
Perhaps not normal ecto-fodder. Still VERY highly recommended for those with more outlandish taste, and anyone who appreciates killer hurdy-gurdy playing. A mixture of traditional folk tunes and new, very upbeat tunes. Some very old-English sounding vocals, but mostly instrumental. (anthony@mh1.lbl.gov)
