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Street cries which tell how it was – and still is
JAMES MILLER recommends a collection of ‘dark traditional songs’

THIS month’s star release comes as such a breath of fresh air in crumbling austerity Britain that it’s a shock to learn it’s 16 years old.

Street Cries (Talking Elephant) sets out to rework “dark traditional songs” for the present day, with Fairport founder Ashley Hutchings penning the words for a seriously impressive line-up of performers.

Mostly it’s only the surface details that change in these songs of poverty, suffering, petty crime, doing prison time and dying young.

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