Rating: 8/10 (Deluxe Edition: 10/10)
Release: 2011
Label: Deaf Shepherd

So, we’re doing speedfolk, punkfolk etc. on Folk-metal.nl for a while now, so had to happen …
The first CD review in this category, and not the least one to start with either. Germany’s speedfolk heroes Fiddler’s Green. And the life of a reviewers’ path is not strewn with roses, we get the ‘deluxe edition’ of ‘Wall of Folk’. And that’s hard work, but not really…
To start at the beginning. The fantastic cover. The carton cover can be unfolded two time. On the inside pictures of these gentlemen in old style, as we see often with this kind of music. Hidden behind this gentlemen are the real goodies of this edition. A nice booklet including all lyrics, the CD ‘Wall of Folk’, the bonus CD and a bonus DVD containing the Summerbreeze 2010 concert.

‘Wall of Folk’ hits of with the title-track, a nice welcome, immediately there’s this nice swinging folky sound we’re used to. A very alternating track, and concerning to me, one of their very best ever. ‘P stands for Paddy’ also has this nice swinging Irish folk sound, keep sitting still at this kind of songs. Very nice violins by Tobias.
And it goes on at this nice speed, a pity ‘Victor and his Demons’ is not really my kind of song, but the ‘Irish Rover’ is a song nobody can mess up. Fiddler’s Green does this in a nice up-tempo and that means a nice folk dance at their next concert.
The gentlemen decide it’s time to put a little resting point in it with the ballad ‘Greens and Fellows’ and the ballad ‘Lost to the Moon’, but fortunately after this it’s done with the quiet parts and they do a nice tribute to the ‘Fiddler’s’ part in their name with the nice speedy song ‘Tam Lin’. And after this it’s not done yet, the CD contains no less that 14 tracks. In my opinion they might skip the slow songs but the faster ones are Superb!

But there’s more, because we also have the bonus CD.
Starting with the ‘ska’like song ‘Jump’ this begins very good again. After a couple of speedy songs on this one also a few slow ones. In my opinion are the slow ones not the strong side of this German gentlemen.

Is it enough for now, NO. Are they heading for a Fiddler’s Green overdose.
No, quite the opposite, the best has still to come. ‘Live at Summerbreeze 2010’, you put it in your player and tears come to your eyes. ‘Why wasn’t I there?’
Beautiful DVD the pleasure drips of this silver plate. They obviously have a lot of fun, just like the audience. Partying on many nice up-tempo songs, circle pitting, swinging and what else. The party is leaking out of my DVD player. Feel a little bit down? Put on this DVD and you’re cured in no time, guaranteed.
The audience didn’t understand the Wall of Folk entirely. With this crossover between the well know Wall of Death and friendly folk dancing, you should greet each other in the middle and pass each other. On Summerbreeze the audience is definitely more Wall of Death orientated.
Simple conclusion: wonderful album.
So, my work is done by now, what shall I do next?
I’ll put on the DVD again, yippee!

Tracklist

1. Wall Of Folk
2. P Stands For Paddy
3. Country Of Plenty
4. Fields Of Green / Nie zu spät
5. Victor And His Demons
6. Irish Rover
7. Scolding Wife
8. Greens And Fellows
9. Lost To The Moon
10. Tam Lin
11. Walking High
12. Milk The Damn Cash Cow
13. Hangman’s Lullaby
14. Dirty Old Town

Tracklist Deluxe editon CD 2

1. Jump
2. I Quit
3. I’ll Tell Me Ma
4. Yindy
5. Fields Of Green
6. Little Monsters
7. Scolding Wife Reprise

Tracklist Deluxe editon DVD
Live at Summerbreeze 2010

1. Intro: Sports Day Theme
2. Life Full Of Pain
3. Sporting Day
4. Highland Road
5. Mrs. McGrath
6. Irish Air
7. Rose In The Heather
8. Kick The Bucket Tunes
9. Rocky Road To Dublin
10. Folk’s Not Dead
11. The Night Pat Murphy Died
12. Bugger Off