Live except for the harmonies, which are existentially impossible for Maz to to sing at the same time as the melody.

Everything else was sung, played, recorded and produced in one go, with amps, speakers and mics etc placed around the room in advance to get the sound picture of the folk tale (three sisters and a riddling geezer). There are only two of us!

This is our first Child: Child Ballad 1. Not the 'Cruel Sister' version by Pentangle but the 'happily married' 2013 version by Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer.

There were three sisters in the north
Lay the bend to the bonny broom
And they lived in their mother's house
And you'll beguile a lady soon
There came a man one evening late
Lay the bend to the bonny broom
He came knocking at the gate
And you'll beguile a lady soon

The eldest sister let him
Lay the bend to the bonny broom
And locked the door with a silver pin
And you'll beguile a lady soon
The second sister made his bed
Lay the bend to the bonny broom
And laid soft pillows 'neath his head
And you'll beguile a lady soon
The youngest sister, fair and bright
Lay the bend to the bonny broom
She lay beside him all through the night
And you'll beguile a lady soon

And in the morning, come the day
Lay the bend to the bonny broom
She said "Young man, will you marry me?"
And you'll beguile a lady soon
He said "Yes, I'll marry thee
Lay the bend to the bonny broom
If you can answer this for me:
And you'll beguile a lady soon
The answers to the riddles are: envy, flattery, rumour, regret, love.
from Poachers on the Common (LP), track released July 3, 2021 https://peacocks-tale.bandcamp.com/album/poachers-on-the-common-lp

Riddles Wisely Expounded

A marriage (and we are actually married, 45 years so far) of melody and rhythm. We do folk, indie, Americana, Norfolk noir, beat poems &  ghazals. Traditional tunes with contemporary beats. Music videos  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb8wV0-DNiFs1R5G2VSytBQ
Maz lead & harmony vocals, acoustic guitar. Gaz vocals, voice, bass, drums & percussion, harmonium, recorders, lyre harp, field recordings.

Life itself is full of stories and experiences. I put words to feelings, thoughts and events. I try to give life to the words in a melody. Create on the guitar. Sing myself. Self-taught. There are many songs in my little book and here on Soundcloud there are now a couple that have received professional production with the help from Petter Boström. Hope you like what you hear. Take care.

singersongwriter from Toronto 


www.alexmcculloch.com

Riddles Wisely Expounded

Peacock's Tale Musical Storytelling