Jabberwocky - Mimir

Available from: Jabberwocky, 31 Oxford Hill, Witney, OX8 6JU Contact Andy on 07020-939412.
Email: andy@Jabberwocky.freeserve.co.uk
Price: £11.50 including postage.
Cheques payable to: Jabberwocky

Reviewed by Dave Smith

I have waited a long time for this CD to arrive. The first time I heard Jabberwocky was at the Spirit of Albion conference I organised in 1997. They played a fantastic set, even though it was one of their first ever gigs. They then played the OBOD Lughnasadh Camp later that year, so I know that many members are as eager to hear the album as me. Well, the news is good. They have managed to capture the sounds of Jabberwocky live - a very hard thing to do with a digitally recorded album. Jabberwocky play a kind of mediaeval, funky type of 'pixie' music, using mandolin, hammered dulcimer, violin, mandola, arghul (what the hell's an arghul?) and other acoustic instruments. Add to that the percussion and droning didgeridoos and that's Jabberwocky. The quality of the songs is excellent. It's not 'heads down, no nonsense' music. There are a lot of intricate rhythms and complicated 'twiddly' bits. But for me this enhances the experience. Some of it reminds me of Jethro Tull during their acoustic stage (One Brown Mouse, Songs from the Wood etc.), and I love all of that stuff. Look, just buy it, it's wonderful!