Leviathan! - Ballads & Songs of the Wailing Trade

No one is likely to accuse this collection of suffering from a surfeit of wit and good humor — whaling was a cold, difficult, and ugly business even after the arrival of mechanization. Lloyd set up this resounding collection with the assistance of long-time associate Alf Edwards on concertina and ocarina; supporting the two of them are Dave Swarbrick on fiddle and Martin Carthy on mandolin, with Trevor Lucas and Martyn Wyndham-Reade acting as a vocal chorus on some songs. As always, Lloyd is in fine — and distinctive — voice. His arrangement and production of the songs dispenses with formal organization, allowing for accidents and rough edges while maintaining the audio quality. The result is an interestingly intimate texture — at times, it feels almost as though Lloyd and company are present in the flesh: a real common-room atmosphere. This remastered reissue is highly recommended.