07/10/2024
Those fine folk at Friends of Fairport pass judgement on Christine Collister’s fab new ‘Children of the Sea’…
Christine Collister
Children Of The Sea
(Fledg’ling Fled3115)
Fledg’ling books and music does quality releases. This time it is Christine Collister celebrating her roots, Celtic roots on the Isle Of Man.
Christine’s debut was on Fledg’ling, she and the label have stayed together ever since. In the notes that came with the book and disc are two quotes well worth repeating as they encompass Christine. “Christine Collister has a glorious soaring, smouldering, sensuous white soul voice’ and ‘… boundary breaking is routine for Collister and makes her one of the finest grown-up vocalists on the planet…’
Now you know about Christine – if you didn’t already. I will tell you a little about this release. The Book is a 48 page hard bound package, sized 7” x 10” (17.5 x 25cm) . The CD is housed in the back cover. Ther nine tracks all relate to the Isle, its people and traditions. The lyrics for each song are printed in full, alongside Christine’s notes on their source and meaning. They are also illustrated with some beautiful paintings, again annotated by Christine. All in all a beautiful package.
The songs, as I have said, are all retrospective narratives of Manx customs, a witch, birds, that one being a story told the world over with different birds. Here it is an eagle and ‘Clever Jenny Wren’. There are pieces about parts of the island, and finally ‘Slane Lhiat / Goodbye, in Manx Gaelic. All in Chritine’s unique style. For the quality of performance just re-read the comment about her voice above.
It's a major release for both Christine and Fledg’ling, it deserves to be a big success. If you get a copy, I’m sure that it will be a big hit in your house. My copy has been hardly out of the player since it arrived. I recommend that you sit quietly with a cuppa to read the book as the disc plays. Outside will be the Isle of Man, birds in the sky, the bushes and on the beach. We are being treated.
To obtain a copy go to https://fledglingrecords.co.uk it will arrive securely packaged.
Christine is touring in November to promote the album and book. Unfortunately for me I can’t make any of the dates, which are:
Friday 8th Erin Arts Centre Isle of Man
A warm-up show for the UK tour and another chance to view some of the original artwork by local artists, for Children Of The Sea.
Thursday 14th WAVENDON, The Stables, Stage 2
https://stables.org/event/christine-collister
Friday 15th, CAMBRIDGE, Folk Club
https://cambridgefolkclub.co.uk/
Saturday 16th, BURY Met, Stage 2
https://themet.org.uk/event/christine-collister-2024/
Sunday 17th WETHERAL (Carlisle), Village Hall
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/842852182567?aff=oddtdtcreator
Mon 18 BRETFORTON, Fleecy Folk
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/fleeceinngrasroots/1278750?
Wednesday 20th, PENZANCE, The Acorn
https://www.theacornpenzance.com/events/christine-collister/
Thursday 21st HONITON, The Beehive
https://thebeehive.savoysystems.co.uk
Friday 22nd,OSMINGTON, Village Hall
https://www.osmingtonvillagehall.co.uk/what-s-on
Saturday 23rd, CORSHAM, Pound Arts
https://poundarts.org.uk/
Sunday 24th, TAMWORTH, The Hub Room - Old Swimming Baths Building, Castle Grounds.
Ticket information:07964 158585
https://stagestubs.com/acoustic-shock-tamworth/christine-collister-in-concert
Mon 25th,BIRMINGHAM,Kitchen Garden Cafe
https://www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk/event/christine-collister/
Wednesday 27th, SHEFFIELD, The Greystones
https://www.mygreystones.co.uk/events/
Thursday 28th, YORK, Black Swan
https://wegottickets.com/event/627630/
Friday 29th, KIRBY STEPHEN, Social Club
(Penny) 017683 72123 OR 07957890578 [email protected]
Saturday 3oth, OTLEY, Courthouse
https://otleycourthouse.org.uk/
