DAVID KIDMAN REVIEWS DELIBERATE MISTAKE - @the-rawmarsh-mashers

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:05:50 -0500

I'm going to be honest, when I gave David Kidman a copy of our CD to review, I did so while holding my breath. Afterall David has the reputation of being completely honest in his reviews of material and "Deliberate Mistake" was our first venture into the world of recording.

And while fenses have been mended since the Bank Holiday clash at Chapeltown, well covered at the time, and life has moved on, I would not be human if I were not just a bit worried about what David might have to say about The Mashers.

THE MASHERS ARE TO SAY THE LEAST "GOB SMACKED" BY WHAT FOLLOWS -

The Rawmarsh Mashers – DELIBERATE MISTAKE (Own Label)

Who on earth? What on earth? What the hell? Answers to all these and many other burning questions are available on the below-mentioned MySpace link, but as for the basics, The Rawmarsh Mashers are (is) best described as a good-time folk (-ish) duo based near Rotherham (deep in the fair Republic Of South Yorkshire), whose totally admirable credo is to play live, to entertain and to have fun.

No fancy arrangements, no pretensions to great art or deep philosophical statement: just good honest old-fashioned fun-folk – supremely raw, loud, lively and above all ultra-enthusiastic –and yet not without a certain level of right-on political stance that appeals greatly to my own nature and sensibilities.

Together, the redoubtable Mashers – Richard (lead vocals and rhythm guitar) and Myke (lead guitar and backing vocals) – provide the necessary antidote to the sides of folk that continually threaten to become over-serious. They've a distinct kinship with groups like the (Liverpool) Spinners or Fivepenny Piece, or at any rate how they were before they got too "popular" (and too polished and too sentimental). And although based in Rotherham, they're both exiles from further south (the Gosport and Portsmouth area being Richard's early stamping-ground, whereas Myke hails from Cheshire) and clearly they love the North (sensible fellas!).

You might say the Mashers' choice of material is unashamedly populist, but in the nicest possible way. Aside from a host of 60s pop classics (not represented on this CD), they trade mostly in songs irreverently reflecting the vagaries and idiosyncrasies of life itself, whether directly comedic or genially wistful, and generally of the pub-singalong variety, with a smattering of crowd-pleasers (traditional fare like Two Recruiting Sergeants and Whip Jamboree, and the Dambuskers' Drink Down The Moon) nestling in amongst a deceptively canny selection of modern-day works loosely in the folk-satire category, from the pens of often underrated writers like Matt McGinn (Three Nights And A Sunday Double Time), Jon Isherwood (My Health Dear), Robb Johnson (Be Reasonable) and Tony Miles (Bloody Rotten Audience). The Mashers even have a theme song that sets out their stall pretty directly and persuasively (perhaps that should've been placed first on the CD?)!

They also creditably exhume the traditional tale of Jessie Munroe and do a nice line in justified righteous anger with a passionate take on Peter Hames' Ordinary Man, while on the other hand who can possibly resist their customised "slight corruption" of Bernard Wrigley's The Martians Have Landed In Rawmarsh?!…

And so what if some of the jokes are at times toe-curlingly predictable?! This CD, a totally WYSIWYG affair, although "produced" by Brian Bedford, is unadulterated Mashers – by which I don't mean it's childish, but that it's utterly devoid of any studio enhancements. It's exactly as the Mashers sound live, down to every last "deliberate mistake".

Actually (and the Mashers probably won't like me for saying this!), there's a bigger degree of accomplishment here than I've heard in some "professional" recordings, it's just that it's unassumedly worn and kept under wraps somewhat, for the Mashers' overriding concern is that both they and their audience enjoy themselves.

They're good at what they do, they have their niche, they stick to it – and good for them! So any critical review that might castigate them for a few wrong words here or a duff chord-change there, an off-key vocal or a crap entry, is just not appropriate – and in any case, anything in the first-mentioned category (most likely mis-hearings or mondegreens!) is all part of the time-honoured folk process in the end, right?

And anyone who through the Mashers' brazenly brash and purposely no-frills presentation gets the impression that they're just taking the p*** and have no respect for their material or their audience, well they're missing the point entirely: they do care, and to a perhaps surprising extent.

Don't expect jaw-dropping instrumental technique, cutting-edge musical adventures or sensitive expression – instead, just go with the flow (yes, there is one!) and you'll have a great time. Just like I did. And nowt wrong wi' that, guv!

http://www.myspace.com/therawmarshmashers

DAVID KIDMAN

To be published on www.netrhythms.co.uk

FolkWords.com Reviews Mashers Debute Album - @the-rawmarsh-mashers

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:00:17 -0400

Raw as you like but you'll love it.

There’s something comforting about the certainty that come what may, the idiosyncratic roots of regional English folk grow deep. And if you need confirmation, then listen to Deliberate Mistake from the Rawmarsh Mashers. Seemingly, this album is their attempt to reproduce the trademark rawness of The ‘Mashers live. Well that’s true – it’s basic and raw - but it’s also bloody good. If you want a pub session in your living room then this is the one for you.

On Deliberate Mistake you’ll find a selection of songs blending life experience, irreverent and bizarre humour, love of the North, a fondness for strong drink and the odd hard-hitting punch between the eyes. And that’s what makes it so good, because just when you think you’re listening to a couple of jokers you find there’s a serious side in there too. Their take on ‘Be Reasonable’ and ‘Bloody Rotten Audience’ are great, so is their rendition of ‘Fat People in Love’ – all jolly fun-packed stuff. Then you get a savage adaptation of ‘Ordinary Man’ and a fine burst of tradition with the drinking song ‘Sixth and Porter’ and ‘Two Recruiting Sergeants’.

The ‘Mashers clearly have a view of life that thrives on taking a poke at just about anything; as long as it keeps a serious and abiding respect for Rotheram and all points North. This album will never go down as a folk milestone but it’s entertaining and fun – and ain’t that what it’s all about? I’m willing to bet that Deliberate Mistake will stay on your CD stack long after you replace the others.

@The Rawmarsh Mashers - blog

DAVID KIDMAN REVIEWS DELIBERATE MISTAKE - @the-rawmarsh-mashers

FolkWords.com Reviews Mashers Debute Album - @the-rawmarsh-mashers