REVIEWS

Andrew Cadie - The Snow Tree (Border Fray)

Dirty Linen (USA)
People have always learned traditional songs and tunes directly from each other, and still do, but over the last century, recordings in formats from wax cylinders to mp3 files have become an equally or perhaps even more common way for music to travel from one person to another. What's still fairly uncommon, though, is the idea of going to college to study folk music. One name that keeps showing up in the biographies of young British performers these days is that of Newcastle University in the northeast of England , which offers a degree program in “Folk and Traditional Music” that seems to be a growing influence in perpetuating British roots styles by educating the next generation of young musicians. The fact that such a program exists is a credit both to the institution that sponsors it and the students who enroll in it.

That all comes to mind because North-of-England singer and multiinstrumentalist Andrew Cadie lists a Newcastle folk degree among his credentials, and he certainly seems to have studied well. His debut solo album, The Snow Tree [Border Fray Records BF 06001 (2006)], is a solid collection of songs and tunes, both traditional ones and originals written in traditional style, accompanied by or played on guitar, fiddle, Northumbrian smallpipes, whistles, and more.

Cadie has an earnest, plaintive voice that's well suited to his serious material, such as the traditional “Sandgate Dandling Song,” which mourns a ruined childhood, or his own “Emigrant's Song,” which holds out hope amid a hard life. He balances the moods with upbeat instrumentals: for example, his fiddle jig set, “Seven Streets,” and “Devilstick Dawson,” a joyful little hornpipe written in memory of a deceased friend.
Dirty Linen (USA) Feb 2007

Irish Music
From that wonderful title to the final chord this is a great album. Opening with ‘Emigrant's Song', he will have your attention and keep it over the remainder of the dozen tracks. ‘O My Lady' has a beautiful light touch as it tells the story and the instrumentation and arrangement fits just right. ‘Sandgate Dandling Song' reminds us of the rich heritage of the Geordie folk song. This story song is in the marvellous tradition of the region and bears close listening. There are echoes of ‘Mucky Kid' in there.

Another traditional song getting the Cadie treatment to great effect is ‘Jock of Hazeldean'. He sings slightly faster than we are used to but it works very well. ‘If You Should Be' is one of his own compositions and it sits very comfortably here with the more traditional material. A version of ‘Love Is Pleasing' taking an arrangement by Tim O'Brian and adding some traditional verses is a joy to hear. The album closes with another Cadie composition, ‘Lilting Lullabies'. This track is another little gem that will become popular with hearing.

Andrew is a performer and writer to watch based on this release. He is also a very accomplished instrumentalist playing fiddle, guitar, Northumbrian pipes, whistles, trumpets and percussion as well as providing the vocal on the album. He also completed the production, mixing etc and even designed the cover, very well, I might add.
Nicky Rossiter, Irish Music, Volume 13 No 1 September 2006, p46 CD Reviews

Adventures in Music, August 2006
"A couple of years ago I got hold of a CD called “Swingin’ Hinnies” made by a trio of Newcastle based music students who called themselves Roll a Penny. In my line of work I get to hear a lot of Folk music CDs by a seemingly endless stream of very talented young musicians but that particular album stayed in my player for quite a few weeks, becoming a firm favourite in the process. As a result I have been looking forward to hearing more recordings by this very fine trio."

" While I wait for a second Roll a Penny album this solo offering by singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Cadie will go a long way to maintain my interest. “The Snow Tree” is a fine album that perfectly displays the versatility of this impressive musician. With the exception of some impressive mandolin playing from fellow Roll a Penny band-mate Roger Purves on one of the tracks, Andrew plays all of the instruments featured on the album. His enthusiastic vocal approach is all his own, and although I am sure he must have his influences the result is totally original. The varied mixture of original and traditional songs and tunes presented, result in an entertaining album that holds the interest of the listener from start to finish."

"Andrew’s song writing is very strong and the hugely enjoyable tune sets display his virtuosity on the many different instruments featured. However it is his original songs that steal the show for me. The opening track ‘Emigrant’s Song’, a poignant piece which explores the situation people find themselves in when forced to live as a foreigner, has the potential to become a staple of the folk repertoire. I could imagine a singer of the calibre of Dick Gaughan or Christy Moore covering it to good effect; it’s that good a song. Other favourites include the joyously infectious ‘O My Lady’ which once heard stays with you for days and ‘Swept Astray’ with it’s wonderfully quirky backing of fiddles, Northumbrian pipes and a funky brass section!"

"Among the traditional songs featured is a gloriously dark rendition of the Tyneside ballad ‘The Sandgate Dandling Song’ sung to a sombre and moving solo fiddle accompaniment. By way of contrast his version of Jock O’Hazledean, which is a different account of the story to the more familiar Walter Scott text, is performed to a pleasing inventive and jaunty finger-style guitar accompaniment."

"I have a feeling that in times to come when Andrew has, as he surely will, become a major player on the Folk music scene this album will become much sought after. So get yourself a copy now while you still can – you will not be disappointed. All in all this is a hugely impressive debut and I wait with great anticipation to hear Andrew’s future recordings as well as those of his Roll a Penny colleagues Katie Doherty and Roger Purves."
Paul Cornwall, Adventures in Music

The Living Tradition, July 2006
Berwick-on-Tweed born Andrew Cadie is a songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist now based in Germany, where he's one half of the Broom Bezzums duo with Mark Sinclair. The Snow Tree is his first solo recording, and has a natural and spontaneous feel. Andrew wrote all but three of the tracks, which convey a strong sense of place - the English North Country. His songs sound timeless and authentic. He really impresses as a multi-instrumentalist, playing fiddle, guitar, Northumbrian pipes, whistle, trumpets, bass and percussion. He's overdubbed a few tracks with a range of additional instrumentation, but several feature just voice, fiddle and/or guitar.

The spacious arrangements ensure a relaxed, confident atmosphere. If You Should Be is a gentle song accompanied by a lyrical guitar tune, and its well suited to Andrews pleasing voice. The more soulful songs like Widows Walk with its fiddle/pipe/trumpet arrangement, or the tender Lilting Lullabies seem to reveal Andrews musicality at its best. The rousing Swept Astray perhaps best highlights his multi-instrumental skills the fiddle leads the way beautifully, enlivened by trumpet, percussion, and Northumbrian pipes. The three instrumental tunes are nicely constructed and convey great attention to detail and melody. Lilting title track The Snow Tree was inspired by a memory of a childhood autumn walk in Berwick-on-Tweed. It gains momentum as Atlantic Storm Reel sweeps in.

You can also hear Andrew in the folk trio Roll a Penny (with Katie Doherty and Roger Purves). On the strength of this album alone, they must be well worth checking out. Incidentally, Andrew Cadie was one of the first students to graduate from the Newcastle Folk Degree course last summer.

He's a musician with an ear for a finely tuned melody, his playing is both sensitive and crafted, and the albums a grower. These soulful, evocative, lyrically convincing songs sit very comfortably within the English folk genre.
-Debbie Koritsas, The Living Tradition, July 2006

fROOTS MAGAZINE
"Founder member of Roll a Penny presents a thoughtful yet spontaneous-sounding set. The songs predominate, many of them quite outstanding, while the tunes are sprightly. Playing fiddle, guitar, trumpets and percussion etc., he achieves an exciting and satisfying instrumental blend by judicious multi-tracking. A very appealing record."
fRoots magazine, June 2006

NETRHYTHMS.COM
"Andrew's a founder member of that vibrant young Northumbrian trio Roll A Penny (see review of their CD Swingin' Hinnies in the NetRhythms archive).
Here after several years of studying traditional music, he's produced a more contemporary-sounding solo album, which is an extremely accomplished effort presenting a thoughtful yet admirably spontaneous-sounding set comprising both tunes and songs. The tunes are all self-penned, and are suitably perky, quirky and sprightly in character - some, like the strathspey-inflected Seven Streets, even turn out to be insidiously catchy too!

It's the songs, however, that predominate; all but three are self-penned, and these turn out to be outstanding, with a deft feel for both economy in construction and expression as well as a mature appreciation of tradition. The opening Emigrant's Song has the kind of leaping melodic compass that I associate with the songs of Bernie Parry, while O My Lady takes the Keel Row into gentler Steve Tilston territory and Widow's Walk is a minor masterpiece of evocative poetic writing.

Of the genuinely traditional songs, Andrew's arrangement of Sandgate Wife's Dandling Song, to the sole accompaniment of fiddle, is attractively managed, and (perhaps against all the odds) even his choice of an unusual, tripping jig-rhythm treatment of Jock O' Hazeldean works, while Andrew clearly feels no shame in utilising Tim O'Brien's gorgeous old-timey-styled setting of Love Is Pleasing as a basis for his own.

Playing fiddle, guitar, Northumbrian pipes, whistles, trumpets, bass and percussion over the course of the album, Andrew achieves an exciting and satisfying instrumental blend by judicious multitracking without overegging the pudding, although it must be stressed that Andrew takes great pride in pulling out as much emotion and interest as possible from just two "voices" (ie singer and guitar or fiddle) wherever practical, and the feeling of spontaneous interaction he's striving for is clearly paramount - and successfully achieved.

This is a very appealing CD, although due to its sheer abundance of gently inventive ideas it may not reveal all its treasures absolutely immediately - but when it does hook you in, you can't stop playing it ..."
David Kidman , netrhythms.com, May 2006

FOLKER!
"Andrew Cadie? Nie gehoert? Dass koennte und sollte sich aendern...[seine] CD klingt von vorne bis hinten stimmig und ueberzeugend. Von Andrew Cadie warden wir noch viel hoeren. Wetten?"
- Mike Kamp - Folker!, Mai 2006

"Andrew Cadie? Never heard of him? That could and should change...[his] CD is consistent and impressive from start to finish. We'll be hearing a lot more from Andrew Cadie in the future - shall we bet on that? "
Mike Kamp, Folker! magazine, Germany (May 2006)