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| Splashy Fen CD Press Reviews |
| continued from previous page ...presented here in their live and untouched forms ("No preservatives added!"). A glance through the set list illustrates the wealth of talent on show here, from Jennifer Ferguson, Lesly Rae Dowling and Heather Mac to Dave Goldblum, Vusi Mahlasela, Syd Kitchen, David Ledbetter and many more. From the opening track 'Chucking Up The Mountain' by Plagal Cadence, which became the unofficial anthem of this festival, to 'Makweru' by Tananas which closes off this double set, 'Splashy Fen' is a broad and expansive collection of the finest roots music from South Africa. Many of these artists are not that well known and have been ploughing their own musical furrows for many years, without an appropriate reward. But with David Marks fighting their cause, and diligently recording and archiving their music, there is hope that this intelligent and emotive music could just achieve the recognition it so richly deserves. The booklet that accompanies this double CD is comprehensive and informative. Each track has its own detailed story and this allows these songs an extra dimension and relevance. |
The booklet also contains lists of all the artists who have performed at this festival over the past nine years. Highlights include Dorien du Toit's blues tribute to the late James Phillips. Heather Mac and Mark Harris' touching 'Bittersweet', the Silver Creek Mountain Band's love song to 'Jeffreys Bay', the Famous Roaches' version of Dave Goldblum's 'Sign Language' and Goldblum's own version of 'Say Africa'. To single out these highlights however is to do the whole set a disservice. If soft, gentle, live, acoustic folk music (with a twist of humour) is your bag, then this double CD set is an essential purchase. If you've been to a Splashy Fen Festival, then this will bring back strong memories. If you haven't been, then this will definitely convince you to do so next year! SPLASHY FEN (April 1999) from the SA ROCK DIGEST
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| continued from previous page Third Ear Music have put together a 35 track double album to mark the 10th anniversary of Splashy Fen. Richard Pithouse had the thoroughly kiff job of checking out Splashy Fen:10 Years of Music Under The Mountain. If you're reading this in a mall instead of at Splashy Fen don't despair because a whole bunch of redemption songs are just a few bucks or a credit card swipe away. Even if you've never been to the festival you'd need a heart of stone not to be impressed with the startlingly good music by the relatively unknown folk singers. And, unless you're the sort of person who hangs out at franchised fake English pubs, you'll be hugely excited to see that the album also includes work by artists of the national and international stature of Vusi Mahlasela, 14 Shabalala, Adamu, Koos Kombuis, Matthew van der Want, Urban Creep, Highway Jam, Landscape Prayers, Madala Kunene, Tananas and Urban Creep. Of course the music does vary in quality but with the exception of Niel Solomon's lyrically challenged In The Year 2000 it's all eminently worth paying good money for. And the genuine treasures, which include work by Koos Kombuis, 14 Shabalala, Matthew van der Want as well as Urban Creep's beautiful Noah, Adamu's soulful Muxima, Jennifer Ferguson's enormously powerful Lilleth and Tananas' brilliant Makweru are each worth more than the price of the album. If you're a festival regular you'll be especially pleased to see that the album includes some quintessential Splashy moments like Pedro Espi-Sanchis playing a killer tune on a PVC pipe, Harry Washburn railing against littering and a few doses of Dorain Du Toit's legendary dead pan humour as well as his spontaneous acapella tribute to the late and unquestionable great James Phillips. It also comes with fascinating sleeve notes and a near complete list of all the bands and artists who played the festival each year. (Just Jinger have, perhaps a little too conveniently, been left out.....) Everybody knows that kak folk music is about as pleasing to the ear as the dentist's drill and the early Splashy did have a few toe curlingly bad moments. But the festival did put meaning before money and it was always an honest, multicultural and peaceful experience which challenged the audience with a compelling range of world class music. |
The old Splashy is steadily giving way to a new rock focus. The new version is slowly improving and may even develop into something special - imagine Splashy 2003 with Rage Against the Machine or Tool supporting the Nude Girls... But although progressive rock bands like Sugardrive and Fetish and a few of the old Splashy Favourites like Madala Kunene, van der Want/Letcher and Landscape Prayers have made this year's bill Splashy has lost some of its original magic and hasn't yet come close to the more comprehensive and risk taking rock festivals. But just as we can still find our way by the light of dead stars the spirit of the old festival will live on in this album. Moments which you've forgotten or half remembered are b(r)ought back to life and it's a wonderful reminder of the best of Splashy Fen, some of the best music of the decade and, of course, the inspirational hope and resilience that's always characterised the South African political and cultural underground. Buy it. And next time you catch yourself slipping into another night of mediocre TV open the window, light a candle, lie back, nestle up to someone nice, put on the CD and take a trip to Splashy Fen. You'll feel the cool mountain breeze on your cheek and a warm rock against your back. And you'll hear the gentle chatter of good people, a child giggling in the distance and, of course, some seriously kiff music. Oh, and by the way, 14 Shabalala IS on track 14 and, yes, you can expect a warning to be issued from the Surgeon General's desk to the effect that: "If sent abroad, this album is likely to generate instant and acute depression in émigré South Africans. Those in New Zealand are at particular risk and should immediately start a course of prozac as a preventative measure in case of accidental exposure." SUNDAY TRIBUNE REVIEW - RICHARD PITHOUSE |
| continued from previous page ...are Durban's awesome trance musician Madala Kunene, the fabulous Kerels, the Zappaesque musings of Mark Harris who is joined by the incredible voice of Heather Mac, and there's the mellow songs of dreadlocked Mike Smith and, of course, Durban's very popular band, the Landscape Prayers. It's all local and original music and it's certainly a wonderful reflection of why Splashy Fen is such a successful cultural and entertaining musical landmark. |
Congratulations to the visionary 3rd Ear Music team under the guidance of David Marks. This Album was made possible by a grant from the National Arts Council of South Africa.
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| CD credits |
| Produced for the 3rd Ear Music Hidden Years Archives Project by David Marks assisted by Dylan Marks. Mastered @ the University of Natal Electronic Music Studio in Durban with thanks to Prof Jurgen Brauninger & Tolne Scholtz. Finalised with Evert de Munnik & Welty Welthagen at the SABC in Johannesburg. The manufacture & pre-production of these CD's was made possible by a grant from the National Arts Council of South Africa & by donations from Terry Rosenberg over a number of years. With contributions to the Music Archive by 3rd Ear Music & friends since 1969. |
| Live Sound Operators (desk-mix recordings): 1990 to 1997 David Marks, 1992 to 1996 Nino Rivera, 1994 to 1997 Evert de Munnik, 1995 to 1998 Jackie Curniffe, as well as various band sound persons. Recording equipment by 3rd Ear Music & Selby Productions who also provided the sound systems. |
| Special Thanks from 3rd Ear Music to: Pete, Almary & the Family Ferraz, Bart & Janine Fokkens, Peter Rorvik, Fran Marks, Cheryl Coombes, Louise Wolmeraans, Russel Galbraith, Neville Dube, Chris Faya, Terry & Barry for keeping 3eM afloat. Paul Mikula for his timeous contribution & to the National Arts Council of South Africa. For assistance in the field thanks to: Evert, Simon, Kevin, Jonny, Eckie & Eugene from the SABC. Dave & Gavin from East Coast Radio. To the old Capital Radio 604. For the stage: Amos & Peter (Group 5). Splashy Fen Farm: Jele, Cornelias & Cleta. Without the folk from the folk clubs around the country, Splashy Fen Music Festival would never have gone this far: Port Elizabeth (Four Winds Folk), The Durban Folk Club (DFC), Pietermaritzburg (Folk & Contemporary Music Association - FACMA), SATMA (South African Traditional Music Association), Ladysmith Black Mambazo Music Academy, Buskers, Muso's Haven & TJ's (of Johannesburg), East London (String & Whistle), Cape Town (Barleycorn). Special thanks to FACMA who for years managed the stages as roadies & runners: Mark, Bessie, Barry, Brian, Wally, Sydwell, Wives, Folk Friends & Dr. Paul Nijs. Sean & Timof TS Electrical for the sparks & to the people of Underberg & Himeville. |
| To those Musicians/Entertainers who passed on to that ultimate Music Festival in the Hereafter: James Phillips, Jethro Shasha, Harry Washburn, Paulus Msimango, Headman Shabalala, Shane van der Salm, Sean Griggs and Bruce Sosibo. (R.I.P.) |
| 3rd Ear Music Company (Pty) Ltd: Tel: (031) 207 5314 • Fax (031) 207 5305 • eMail: thirdear@iafrica.com Splashy Fen: Bart Fokkens - Tel: (031) 572 3073
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| Sleeve Design by Garth Robinson at Artworks Publishing and Communications. Photographs from 'Splashy Fen - A Celebration' published by Artworks Publishing and Communications. Photography by Sharon Gill, Shirley Trickett, Michael Hall, Bart Fokkens, Roger O'Neill, Clint Zasman, Colin Hull, Jill Ferraz, Grant Erskine, David Marks, Tracey Boyle, Dez Joubert, Fred Salles and Garth Robinson. © No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers.
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