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DIRTY LINEN (USA) Stömp are a rollicking five piece, modern English Country Dance band who play pumped-up ceilidh music ... loud and rocking, often reminiscent of the late lamented Tiger Moth ... consistently energetic, danceable and fun.
FOLK ROOTS (UK) Stömp ... adeptly mix the light and heavy elements of concertina/whistle/fiddle and rock rhythm section., and it's not every ceilidh band does an Iron Maiden tune is it? Tremendous.
FOLKWORLD (GERMANY) Stömp is an English Country Dance Band with a broad field of influences: from trad to rock, from England over Sweden to central Europe. Their music is hugely enjoyable to listen to. 'Machine Without Horses' has the right modern swing to be perfect to dance to, but also to sit and listen to the inspiring unusual interpretations.
MUSICAL TRADITIONS (INTERNET) Everything is designed to give the impression of a hard, cocky, exciting mob. The excellent sleeve artwork (by Christoph Heuer) marks the CD out as different from the run-of-the-mill English dance band records, and the photo included with the press kit shows a black leather-clad quintet glowering, shouting and flicking the `V's at the camera ... they might even be considered trendy, a la Oysterband.
SONGLINES (UK) This is a work of substantial content, variety, and richness of texture and colour. ‘Machine Without Horses’ has been lovingly and painstakingly made. It’s highly polished and brings the same kind of excitement as early performances by the Albion Country Band – Stömp never let you forget they are a working dance band; they hop and swing.
SHREDS AND PATCHES (UK) Electric - in both senses. Sheena Masson has long been one of my favourites; her flute, whistle and concertina work are outstanding. The irrepressible Rob Gifford is completely at home, his drumming always that precious tad short of frenetic. Kevin Adams' fiddle is impressive, the guitar playing is crisp and accurate.
SHIRE FOLK (UK) This excellent Ceilidh Band has found time to record nearly an hour's worth of a wide- ranging mix of traditional, contemporary and original music. Backings range from spoons and acoustic guitars all the way to a bed of sizzling extra-fuzz electric guitar, which actually works ... I first listened to this album early in the year while recovering from the Millennium Bug, and it cheered me up no end. Don't miss them if they play a ceilidh near you ...
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