Hannah J writes: When I was thinking about the many topics that the word "separation" can cover I started to think about the 'divide and rule' mentality of our media and government and the huge disparity of wealth which our systems hold in place, but also about our separation from the land as a species. We have moved from worshipping nature and being part of it, to seeing ourselves as separate from it and, perhaps most foolishly of all, to thinking we can control it and are not dependent on it. I eventually typed in the word Earth and found this absolute gem, a broadside ballad which could have been written yesterday. It reminded me how deeply engrained and long standing these power struggles are and manages to cover just about everything I was thinking! It's also written by a man with one of the best names I've ever heard - Uriahs Smart
credits
from Songs of Separation,
released January 29, 2016
Music by Hannah James and lyrics by Uriahs Smart public domain adapted by Hannah James arranged by Jenn Butterworth, Eliza Carthy, Jenny Hill, Hannah James
supported by 6 fans who also own “Poor Man's Lamentation”
a friend introduced me to this album two winters ago, and it's very quickly become a staple in my household (it isn't the holiday season until sing we all merrily plays).
the tracks that particularly strike me though are heading for home, the bear song, and the old churchyard - the way the world cycles on, the turning of the wheel, life and death in a beautiful dance. we could despair that our time is short, but we seek joy and love again and again.
I love this album. sophie
This album speaks to the continuum of African diasporic culture that is central to the vibrant canon of Americana folk music. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 29, 2020
Sweet harmonies & strummed melodies; the duo delve into decades-old folk, jazz, and country to find a timeless kind of love and connection. Bandcamp New & Notable May 23, 2018
Proceeds from this excellent new darkambient/neofolk comp from LEFT/FOLK goes to benefit American Near East Refugee Aid. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 10, 2024
The Alabama duo's fifth album exults in dusty Americana, showcasing rich vocal harmonies alongside blissful folk instrumentation. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 31, 2024