SingOUt! Autumn 2008

“No Small Thing”
(BirdsTale Records, 2008)

Lee Hunter and Arvid Smith, who are Tammerlin, skate on the pop side of folk, but do it with grace and élan. Hunter composed nine of the 14 songs on the CD, Smith an instrumental, and the rest are covers of “Kingdom Come” by Berryman, Buckland and Champion, “Can’t Find My way Home” by Steve Winwood, and two British traditional songs. Hunter and Smith co-produced the album with Pete Winter, who also plays bass. Darol Anger makes guest appearances on violin. Hunter and Smith play quite a few instruments between them and are joined by a full cast of backup musicians. Although most of the songs are fully produced, many remain completely accessible those with more acoustic tastes. The high level of musicianship and cohesive production, along with the strong voices and harmonies of Hunter and Smith, make this CD an entertaining excursion from start to finish. Hunter performs a striking version of the traditional “Leaves Of Life” with just fiddle accompaniment. They also give a jazz-pop twist to the familiar “I Once Loved A Lass” worthy of Pentangle. The originals are largely a variety of love songs, with the exception of “The Last Dance” which is a paean to nature and nostalgia, a love song in its own way. Hunter and Smith are talented, professional performers who know how to make an entertaining recording.

R. Warren