A meeting of two fierce exponents of the folk traditions of England and New England was always likely to produce sparks and so it proves on the aptly titled Bottle. There are gentle moments among its selection of antique songs – the laments of 10,000 Miles and Love Farewell – but more typical is the clash between Carthy’s demon fiddle and Eriksen’s thrash guitar on Buffalo and Prodigal Son. The pair’s unvarnished vocal harmonies are likewise at full throttle on its tales of Native American massacre and seafaring travails, while the title cut is “a medieval song about orgasm” delivered to banjo and handclaps. Tough and uncompromising.
