Dyble Longdon - Between A Breath And A Breath
Given the respective folk-rock and progressive rock influences/ backgrounds of singer-songwriter-lyricist Judy Dyble (original singer of pioneering folk-rock band Fairport Convention, the duo Trader Horne, later solo career) and David Longdon (multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer and front man of acclaimed progressive outfit Big Big Train) it’s no surprise those influences blend and mix extremely well on the pair’s collaborative album Between A Breath And A Breath.
The pair’s singing voices mix and blend equally well, the perfect vocal companions to the emotive music (written by David Longdon) and poignant lyrics (written by Judy Dyble).
That poignancy is heightened when one considers Judy Dyble was seriously ill at the time of recording; she sadly passed not long after the album had been completed.
But Between A Breath And A Breath isn’t just a touching tribute to Judy Dyble through the songs that make up the album (split into a four track 'Side One' and a three track 'Side Two'); it’s also clearly within the care and attention taken with the whole product.
The CD comes as a gatefold sleeve that features a beautiful cover painting (by Sarah Louise Ewing) and a lovely 'fireside' photo of Judy Dyble and David Longdon in the inner fold out.
The album also includes a 16-page booklet featuring Judy Dyble’s lyrics and some lovely photographs, including a quite touching one of the singer with Jessie the Greyhound.
In short, the artwork and packaging matches the artistic craft of the music within.
'Side One' opens with lead-off single 'Astrologers,' which sets the folk meets melodic soft-prog tone of Between A Breath And A Breath beautifully.
The delicate and delightful mid-tempo sweep of the song belies the sadder lyric of a woman who believes her horoscope when it tells her today is the day she will meet the man of her drams; or the next day; or… until ended by the woman’s cry of "stop it now" through the beautifully phrased vocality of Judy Dyble, complemented by the harmonies and counter-point vocals of David Longdon.
While not all of Judy Dyble’s lyrics carry such sad refrains or stories there is a sense of solemnity to each that, given the circumstances surrounding the writing and recording, adds to the poignancy.
'Tidying Away the Pieces,' for example, lyrically doubles as an acknowledgement of a recent passing and, one suspects, Judy Dyble’s acceptance of her own remaining time – yet the song carries a positivity throughout, both musically and lyrically ("I will be all right").
As to be expected, and as mentioned at the top of the review, the folk influences are never far away.
Those influences make a particularly impacting mark on 'Obedience,' a modern folk song that carries a Celtic rhythm within its fuller sounding progressive rise and more delicate fall, embellished by shared vocals, flute, violins and synth washes.
The title track closes 'Side One' in a gorgeous display of progressive baladeering; Judy Dyble and David Longdon exchanging lines over piano, mellotron and vibraphone, among other instrumentation.
The three track 'Side Two' features the eleven-and-a-half minute, two-part 'France,' a long-form journey through French villages and Parisienne tales (accompanied by the distinctly French accordion of Rikard Sjöblom).
The song poignantly recalls the "echoes of war" through a more militaristic rhythm (featuring David Longdon’s similarly echoing vocal) before a more progressively structured section brings around a more sombre Part 2 ("but times of delight were fading from sight as invaders moved into their homes").
A striking and uplifting finale brings to a conclusion a song that wouldn’t be out of place on a Big Big Train album (reinforced by the fact that nearly all of BBT feature on the song).
'Whisper,' the second longest song on the album at seven-and-a-half minutes, is a graceful soft prog-rock waltz that has elegant, musical panache and an uplifting outro (Judy Dyble and David Longdon’s voices play together beautifully on this track).
Final song 'Heartwashing' contrasts with what has gone before somewhat with spoken word verses from Judy Dyble that sit over a spacier, jazz arrangement that features forlorn trumpets from Luca Calabrese.
Yet such seeming discordancy makes for an interesting closing piece that also delivers the most poignant moment of the entire album as Judy Dyble speaks the final, unaccompanied words:
"For what will be the next adventure… should there be such a thing."
Judy Dyble, between a breath of a respected and not insignificant career and a final breath of passing, in the company of David Longdon and a collective of talented contributing musicians. could not have signed-off in more graceful fashion.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
The pair’s singing voices mix and blend equally well, the perfect vocal companions to the emotive music (written by David Longdon) and poignant lyrics (written by Judy Dyble).
That poignancy is heightened when one considers Judy Dyble was seriously ill at the time of recording; she sadly passed not long after the album had been completed.
But Between A Breath And A Breath isn’t just a touching tribute to Judy Dyble through the songs that make up the album (split into a four track 'Side One' and a three track 'Side Two'); it’s also clearly within the care and attention taken with the whole product.
The CD comes as a gatefold sleeve that features a beautiful cover painting (by Sarah Louise Ewing) and a lovely 'fireside' photo of Judy Dyble and David Longdon in the inner fold out.
The album also includes a 16-page booklet featuring Judy Dyble’s lyrics and some lovely photographs, including a quite touching one of the singer with Jessie the Greyhound.
In short, the artwork and packaging matches the artistic craft of the music within.
'Side One' opens with lead-off single 'Astrologers,' which sets the folk meets melodic soft-prog tone of Between A Breath And A Breath beautifully.
The delicate and delightful mid-tempo sweep of the song belies the sadder lyric of a woman who believes her horoscope when it tells her today is the day she will meet the man of her drams; or the next day; or… until ended by the woman’s cry of "stop it now" through the beautifully phrased vocality of Judy Dyble, complemented by the harmonies and counter-point vocals of David Longdon.
While not all of Judy Dyble’s lyrics carry such sad refrains or stories there is a sense of solemnity to each that, given the circumstances surrounding the writing and recording, adds to the poignancy.
'Tidying Away the Pieces,' for example, lyrically doubles as an acknowledgement of a recent passing and, one suspects, Judy Dyble’s acceptance of her own remaining time – yet the song carries a positivity throughout, both musically and lyrically ("I will be all right").
As to be expected, and as mentioned at the top of the review, the folk influences are never far away.
Those influences make a particularly impacting mark on 'Obedience,' a modern folk song that carries a Celtic rhythm within its fuller sounding progressive rise and more delicate fall, embellished by shared vocals, flute, violins and synth washes.
The title track closes 'Side One' in a gorgeous display of progressive baladeering; Judy Dyble and David Longdon exchanging lines over piano, mellotron and vibraphone, among other instrumentation.
The three track 'Side Two' features the eleven-and-a-half minute, two-part 'France,' a long-form journey through French villages and Parisienne tales (accompanied by the distinctly French accordion of Rikard Sjöblom).
The song poignantly recalls the "echoes of war" through a more militaristic rhythm (featuring David Longdon’s similarly echoing vocal) before a more progressively structured section brings around a more sombre Part 2 ("but times of delight were fading from sight as invaders moved into their homes").
A striking and uplifting finale brings to a conclusion a song that wouldn’t be out of place on a Big Big Train album (reinforced by the fact that nearly all of BBT feature on the song).
'Whisper,' the second longest song on the album at seven-and-a-half minutes, is a graceful soft prog-rock waltz that has elegant, musical panache and an uplifting outro (Judy Dyble and David Longdon’s voices play together beautifully on this track).
Final song 'Heartwashing' contrasts with what has gone before somewhat with spoken word verses from Judy Dyble that sit over a spacier, jazz arrangement that features forlorn trumpets from Luca Calabrese.
Yet such seeming discordancy makes for an interesting closing piece that also delivers the most poignant moment of the entire album as Judy Dyble speaks the final, unaccompanied words:
"For what will be the next adventure… should there be such a thing."
Judy Dyble, between a breath of a respected and not insignificant career and a final breath of passing, in the company of David Longdon and a collective of talented contributing musicians. could not have signed-off in more graceful fashion.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
In memory of Judy Dyble (1949 - 2020)