''Folk Songs II'' is an album by the

Big Eyes Family Players The Big Eyes Family Players / Big Eyes Family are a group from Sheffield, UK, formed in 1999 by multi-instrumentalist James Green. They initially recorded experimental music under the name Big Eyes, but in 2006 they changed their name and began t ...

& Friends, released in 2012 on Static Caravan Recordings. It is the follow-up to the 2009 album '' Folk Songs'' by

James Yorkston James Yorkston (born James Patrick Yorkston Wright; 21 December 1971) is a Scottish folk musician, singer-songwriter and author from the village of Kingsbarns, Fife. He has been releasing music since 2001. As well as recording as a solo artist, ...

and the Big Eyes Family Players.

Background

Following the success of the first ''Folk Songs'' album and tour, and at a loss for what to do next, Yorkston suggested to the Big Eyes Family Players leader James Green that he make a sequel. Green then invited some of his favourite singers to choose songs and he would provide the music. A limited edition version of the album features a bonus CD entitled ''The Meersbrook Manor Sessions'', which contains three additional tracks.

Critical reception

The album received positive reviews from the music press. Writing in

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

, Robin Denselow commented on the "even more adventurous, often sprawling arrangements", compared to the first album, and called it "A strange, compelling set."

Folk Radio UK Folk Radio UK, is an online Independent Music Journal covering a broad range of Folk music, Global music, Independent music, American Primitive Guitar, Drone Music and other alternative offerings. Established in 2004 by Alex Gallacher. the websi ...

said, "The Big Eyes Family Players have proven yet again that they are sensitive interpreters of traditional folk songs", while the website For Folk's Sake commented that, "anyone who can’t find plenty to be excited about really doesn’t have the right to call themselves a folk fan."

Track listing

#"Greenland Bound" (featuring

Adrian Crowley Adrian Crowley is a singer, composer, songwriter, lyricist from Galway, based in Dublin and was born in Sliema, Malta. Crowley has released eight albums to date, with his debut ''A Strange Kind'' arriving in 1999. He followed this with ''When ...

) #"A Man Indeed" (featuring

Mary Hampton Mary Hampton is a folk singer, songwriter, accordionist and guitarist from Brighton, England. Hampton has released two self-produced CD-Rs, ''Book One'' (2006) and ''Book Two'' (2007), containing a mix of original and traditional songs. In 2008 ...

and

Sharron Kraus Sharron Kraus is an English singer, songwriter and musician with strong ties to the US. Kraus was born in New York but grew up in Leicester, England. She has lived in Philadelphia and collaborated with American musicians, including Meg Baird, Hel ...

) #"Looly, Looly" (featuring

) #"The Clyde Water" (featuring Heather Ditch) #"The Coast O' Spain" (featuring Alasdair Roberts) #"Farewell Lovely Nancy" (featuring

Nancy Elizabeth ''Nancy Elizabeth Cu'' is an English folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who releases music with The Leaf Label. She is an active member of Sōka Gakkai. History Early years Nancy was born in Billinge Higher End, near Wigan, Great ...

) #"Doffing Mistress" (featuring James Yorkston and Elle Osborne) #"Don't You Be Foolish, Pray" (featuring

James William Hindle James William Hindle (also known as Jimmy Hindle) is a British singer-songwriter from Yorkshire. He released three albums in the 2000s on Badman Records before re-emerging in the 2010s as a member of Glasgow-based indie rock bands The Pooches an ...

) #"Stretched On Your Grave" (featuring Adrian Crowley) #"Thousands Or More" (featuring Elle Osborne) #"Bonny Boy" (featuring Heather Ditch) #"Maureen From Gippursland" (featuring Alasdair Roberts)

The Meersbrook Manor Sessions

#"Hares On The Mountain" (featuring Heather Ditch) #"A Beggar, A Beggar" (featuring James Yorkston) #"Just As The Tide Was Flowing" (featuring James Green)

References

{{Authority control 2012 albums