Taking Sides: Hem's "Rabbit Songs" vs. Fairport Convention's "Liege & Lief"

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I wasn't sure if this comparison had been brought up before, but I was listening to Rabbit Songs last night and, without making any kind of connection, I put on Leige & Lief this morning (it's actually still playing right now) and noticed the similarities.

Especially the remarkably similar vocals of Hem's Sally Ellyson and Fairport's Sandy Denny.

What say ye?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 22 November 2003 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm a huge Fairport fan, and of British folk-rock in general, but i know nothing of Hem. Tell me all, please.

― Pete S, Saturday, 22 November 2003 17:27 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.rabbitsongs.com/

Where Fairport drew from traditional Anglo folk of England, Hem does the same from the rural American sound of Appalachia.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 22 November 2003 17:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow. cool. Thanks for the info, Johnny Fever. I, too, am a Fairport Convention fan but had never heard of these guys. I'll check 'em out.

― Stepher (Stephie), Saturday, 22 November 2003 18:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Last time I brought up the Hem album, I think the ILM concensus was that it was "vanilla." I think it's the best album of 2002.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 22 November 2003 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

That does sound intriuging. Is it widely available?(i'm in the UK)

― Pete S, Saturday, 22 November 2003 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Last time I brought up the Hem album, I think the ILM concensus was that it was "vanilla."

I don't remember who said that, but I (under my former id) foolishly compared them to Tarnation. After listening to it many more times, I retract that statement. It's beautiful in its own right, and really incomparable. It was only by listening to Rabbit Songs and Leige & Lief within 18 hours of each other that I made this connection.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 22 November 2003 18:33 (twenty-two years ago)

It was re-issued on the Dreamworks label last summer, and Amazon UK has it for £9.99.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 22 November 2003 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Cheers.

― Pete S, Saturday, 22 November 2003 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

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