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Review: 'JD MEATYARD'
'Northern Songs'   

-  Label: 'Probe Plus'
-  Genre: 'Folk' -  Release Date: '7th October 2013'-  Catalogue No: 'PROBE 69'

Our Rating:
No names, no pack drill, but this reviewer recently found a BlogSpot hosting a free download of East Lancs tribal-pop terrorists Levellers 5’s classic debut LP ‘Springtime’ from 1990. In the preamble, the blogger asserted that, in as many words “all writers hated them.” Well, said blogger clearly didn’t read ‘Sounds’. If he did, he/ she would have come across my 5-star review of ‘Springtime’ and 4-star review of their 1991 follow-up ‘Clatter’, not to mention a brace of live reviews.   Do your research properly bud: that’s what the internet’s there for. ‘Sounds’ may be long dead, but there’s even a page dedicated to it on Wikipedia these days, dontcha know.

A hundred words wasted already, then? Not really. I needed to clear the air. Besides, the blogger’s assertion actually isn’t that far wide of the mark. John Donaldson’s Levellers 5 and his equally unsung second band Calvin Party were stupidly ignored by vast swathes of the media, even if (predictably) John Peel rated them and – though not a lotta people know this – they were once managed by Shaun Ryder’s dad Derek.

All water that’s long since sluiced under the bridge, but it’s worth bearing in mind when encountering JD MEATYARD and thinking he/she/ they have just fallen out of the sky. Yes, ‘JD Meatyard’ is indeed the singular John Donaldson in a different guise.   As with his self-titled debut, ‘Northern Songs’ is (very) broadly an acoustic-based, spiky anti-folk affair, though talented collaborators – including percussionist Johann Visschers and ace multi-instrumentalist Dave Thom – are again on hand to put flesh on the bones. In addition, fellow ex-Levellers 5 lead guitar foil Steven Lindley is also recalled to provide sonic oomph and his contributions are frequently crucial to the plot.

As with the debut, ‘Northern Songs’ has an edgy, schizophrenic quality. A couple of tracks (‘Heartbreaker T-Shirt’, ‘Shop’) are barely thumbnail sketches and most of the rest sound as though they could collapse at any second, yet it’s this unpredictability that often ensures ‘Northern Songs’ is such a compelling listen.

It’s stuffed with songs exposing raw nerves and picking at open sores. “It’s easy to write when you’re down/ self-pity is fertile ground,” Donaldson notes sagely on ‘Happy Song For Amsterdam Man’, before allowing the darkness to become all too visible on ‘I Cracked (You’re Better Now)’, which could almost be Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy relocated to Rossendale. 

Elsewhere, Donaldson has socio-political issues lined up in his telescopic sights. The bitter, self-explanatory ‘A Political Song (Blow It Our Your Arse)’ could almost be an extension of the debut LP’s ‘St. Peter At The Gate’, as could ‘Jesse James’ fast’ n’ bulbous outlaw blues where Lindley’s electric guitar really stings. His descriptive E-bow makes ‘Jesus Call’ too, while the cranky interplay between Lindley and Donaldson on ‘All Remains’ recalls vintage Levellers 5.

Happily, there’s also room for plaintive, country/ folk-tinged numbers such as ‘Dance With You’ and ‘Love That Girl’, though perhaps the LP’s finest moment is reserved for the home strait and ‘Standing On The Shoulders...’: a rousing anthem wherein Donaldson heartily salutes the left-field pioneers from Don Van Vliet through to Mark. E. Smith and Dick Gaughan who’ve twisted music into all sorts of fascinating, future-welcoming shapes, sometimes at the expense of heart, soul and sanity.

Personally, this writer would be inclined to include John Donaldson in this list of unsung heroes, but hang on...now I've been told no music journalists ever liked Levellers 5 or Calvin Party, I guess I have to follow suit and ignore JD Meatyard too.


Probe Plus Records online
  author: Tim Peacock

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JD MEATYARD - Northern Songs