ENGLISH DANCE & SONG

Stömp: 'I Claim My Five Pounds' (Osmosys CD034)

Their last release ' Machine Without Horses' was in 1999 and, as it says  on the CD, this is the 'difficult second album'. However from the very start the Stomp sound is apparent and even if we had to wait a long time for the follow up, this CD is worth the wait. From its atmospheric start, with its Swedish overtones,to the complete contrast of 'Brighton Camp' delivered on fife and snare drum that finishes the CD, Stomp's musicianship shines through.

There are some great tunes here that I found myself humming hours later without being aware that I had absorbed them that well. Stomp always seem to be able to seek out great tunes and knit them together well into sets. Some of the gems include 'Modus Mats' where they develop the all-important hypnotic hormpipe rhythm that enable dancers to step hop the night away. 'Milladoiro' which starts gently but with the tune 'Entry' lifting it on to a different level of energy, and 'Scan Tester's' which give the band the opportunity to wind it up and deliver ceilidh band music straight to the feet.

As well as great tunes the CD features three songs: 'Campaign', a song on the unlikely topic of seasonal sugar beet collection, 'Lobby Lud' a song about the mysterious man who was supposed to give away £5 notes to promote the News Chronicle (I wonder how many times he was actually recognised?), and the traditional song 'The Rebel Soldier'. All are well sung and ably backed by the band. For me, however, Stomp's strength has always been their playing of superb dance music and this CD gives them ample opportunity to demonstrate their skill.

Ray Langton

English Dance & Song Summer 2006