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QuickSilver - Reviews
 
Radio 2's Nick Barraclough on 'Plenty'
What really irritates me about this record is the absurd mastery of whatever genre these two choose to take on. While the rest of us struggle to hoe our own row, Grant and Hilary are the most varied of market gardeners. Not only brassicas but also courgettes, leeks, peppers…red and green. One could almost imagine them with some small livestock. Maybe even an emu…

…sorry, but the sort of versatility on display here is quite stunning, and the trick they’ve pulled off is that these are not pastiches. Quicksilver are as convincing as English folkies as they are as chansonniers or, to quote Grant himself, jazz/blues comedy-lieder yodellers.

Set these boundary-busting principles in the hands of an extraordinarily dextrous guitarist as Grant and through such effortless tonsils as Hilary's and you have the answer to the question 'But what is it'. And the answer is 'Who cares when it sounds this good?'
Marilyn Campbell, Organiser, Chichester Folk Club
I usually shy away from reviewing a guest performance because it can seem to imply that the other guests have been inferior to it and we rarely have anything but truly excellent guest nights at the club.

However, every now and then, an exception must be made when superb musicianship, entertaining presentation and exceptional quality of material combine to provide one of those nights that you know you are going to remember for a long time. Such was the first guest night of the new year back in January.

Grant Baynham has been a popular guest at the club many times before, stunning everybody with his guitar virtuosity, songwriting skills and humour. A whole generation now know him for these skills as opposed to his previous incarnation as a TV "That's Life!" presenter. Hilary Spencer was also making a welcome return, having previously visited as both a solo performer and member of Artisan. However many times we hear her sing, the strength and power of her voice and her wholehearted delivery of a song is always a revelation once more.

So, when the opportunity came along to book the pair in the guise of QuickSilver, a newly-formed duo, the portents were good and expectations were high. Surely the 'sum of the parts' wouldn't be 'greater than the whole' as has been the case in some collaborations? We need not have worried. . .The combination was a perfect match. Half the songs of the evening were written by Grant, a consummate wordsmith, whose lyrics often demand a tempo and clarity of diction that Hilary takes effortlessly in her stride. "Sing In The Day" and "Halls Of Meroniel" provided rousing openers for each half. Grant's songs have, in the past, been likened to those of Jake Thackray and a performance of "The Hair Of The Widow Of Bridlington" (probably the best version I've ever heard of the song, including Jake's!) was a moving a fitting tribute to the writer who had so recently died.

Hilary seems to 'live' each song in order to present it to an audience and because of the engages the listener fully. Donagh Long's "Never Be The Sun" and Piaf's immortal "La Vie En Rose" elicited that end-of-song silence that comes when no-one wants to become the first to break the spell that's been cast. And if anyone had told me that "Tam Lin" would hold my interest yet again after all these years of being involved in the folk scene I'd have laughed!

And talking of laughing. . .Pete and Lou Berryman's "Double Yodel" cannot ever have been performed better. Grant's only problem seemed to be calming everyone's laughter down enough at the end of it to introduce the next gem. We all knew we were a part of a very special night as the consummate musicianship and performance skills shown by these two great entertainers, obviously enjoying each other's company and working in such harmonious humour, ensuring a spiralling atmosphere of enjoyment.

The sheer divergence of the material, drawn from so many different genres of song, never allowed the momentum to be lost. All too soon it was at an end.

To any club, concert or festival organisers out there reading this:- you'd be mad not to book them! To anyone who goes to those clubs, concerts or festivals:- you'd be even madder not to make sure you see them. I can provide contact details if required. After all - I'll be buying the first ticket!
April 2003
Mary Hamilton, Faversham Folk Club
'QuickSilver's visit to the club proved to be what entertainment is all about. Blues, ballads, traditional and contemporary songs all delivered as only a master (mistress?) of her art can with a voice that sends shivers up your spine and excitement to your toes.

All this accompanied by the cleverest guitar work we've heard in a very long time and peppered with a healthy dose of humour. Hilary and Grant really know what the word 'performance' means. An unforgettable evening.'
April 2003
John New , Northampton Folk Club
'QuickSilver' reaches the parts that other performers can't reach. Hilary's voice will have the hairs standing up on the back of the neck and Grant's dazzling guitar-playing will make your jaw drop with wonder. Pure joy!
April 2003
Mardles - Suffolk's Folk Magazine
'I am a great fan of Hilary Spencer, as a solo artist or as a member of Artisan or the Mrs Ackroyd Band. She is a simply wonderful singer. Here, in QuickSilver, she is joined by the incredibly talented guitarist and songwriter, Grant Baynham, who wrote many of the songs on this album. Their performance seems effortless, an indication of just how good they are, whether singing their own material, blues, Piaf, or Jake Thackray songs. Whatever the style, they manage it with ease. Grant even includes his guitar tunings in the sleeve notes. Don't miss them if you get the chance to hear them.'
November 2003
Dave Kidman - Folk Roundabout, the North East's Folk Magazine

This release exceeded even my expectations, and I'd a good idea of what to expect from consideration of the supremely talented participants ( Hilary Spencer - she of Artisan - and her cohort, 'That's Life!' veteran Grant Baynham, respectively vocalist and guitarist of unbelievable dexterity)!

Versatility is the keyword, as the duo are equally adept on a staggering variety of material that ranges from deeply serious to seriously silly and encompassing all points in between. The light-hearted probably (just about) has the lion's share here, but that's not a criticism. It's great to hear Jake Thackray's 'Widow of Brid' again especially done so stylishly. There's also a well-paced, considered version of the jazz standard 'Here's That Rainy Day', while track 2 ('The Hurdy Gurdy Man') turns out to be not the Donovan hit but an entirely credible "paraphrase" (rather than translation) of Schubert's chiling 'Winterreise' Lied 'Der Leiermann'.

Grant's 'The Curse' all-too-memorably transmogrifies a Bob Peacock jazz-ballad. Elsewhere, Edith Piaf's "awesome" 'La Vie En Rose' neatly counterpoints a clutch of songs by Grant himself that just go to show how annoyingly gifted all round the man is! Whatever the idiom, the duo's individual and collective timing is (as you'd expect) impeccable - some might say irritatingly perfect!

So finally - why QuickSilver? Aside from the aptness of the word to describe the duo's wit and dexterity, the alchemists among you will already have sussed that H + G (Hilary + Grant) = Hg, the chemical symbol for Mercury. . .clever or wot?!
Dec 2003
John Denny - The Folk Mag. Online guide to folk for the West Midlands.

Quicksilver is Hilary Spencer on principal vocals and Grant Baynham on guitar and songwriting. Most people know Hilary as part of Artisan and Grant from his TV work. I like the knockabout humour of Middleton Hiring Fair (words and music by Grant). Their voices work well together, Grant's guitar work is very neat and sets the track off a treat. I loved the cheerful playing around with words of Double Yodel (words and music by Lou and Peter Berryman). It tempts me to look for more work by the writers. Here's That Rainy Day is a jazz standard (Burke/Van Heusan). It may not be folk but it is done simply here, with Hilary on vocals and Grant on guitar, simply good.

There is nothing quite as productive of malice as an ended love affair and this is carefully described in The Curse. Amazingly enough, despite the ill-will the song cannot avoid containing, it still manages to be sensitive. Bob Peacock wrote the music and Grant the very careful words. Did anyone read about the epidemic among the seals causing large numbers of them to be washed up dying ashore last year'? Think about that and listen to the words of The Seal Song (words and music by Grant Baynham). It has a slow but singable chorus and will probably be picked up by other singers. Fancy a touch of Blues? No-One Writes A Blues Song Anymore (words and music by Grant Baynham) will fill the space nicely and Hilary has the voice to do it justice.

Sing In The Day (Grant Baynham) is the sort of song that would and undoubtedly will go down well in any folk club in Britain. They clearly enjoyed singing this. Their voices worked so well together. Just to show they can appreciate excellent words by other writers, Hilary takes a Jake Thackray song The Hair Of The Widow Of Bridlington and makes it her own. That in itself is quite an achievement with such an idiosyncratic writer. The last track, Same Old Song (Baynham), would happily suit the late spot in a smoky jazz club and drifts into As Time Goes By. It is as carefully done as the rest of the CD. This is one of those records that refuses to fit into any musical slot than purely its own. I like it now and, rather like a favourite book, the more times I play it the better I think I will like it.
Dec 2003
Jim Marshall - The Folk Diary

The name QuickSilver cloaks the identities of Hilary Spencer, perhaps best known as one third of Artisan, and singer-guitarist Grant Baynham, one-time reporter on 'That's Life!'. They've come up with an album that's well-nigh impossible to categorise. The material ranges from a delightful version of the Burke and Van Heusen classic 'Here's That Rainy Day'; to Edith Piaf's 'La Vie En Rose' and a very acceptable version of Jake Thackray's 'The Hair Of The Widow Of Bridlington'.

There are no folk songs here as such, although you could be forgiven for thinking that Grant Baynham's 'Middleton Hiring Fair' was an old traditional piece.

With such a wide variety of material I do question at what particular audience this CD is aimed. I enjoyed it a lot but I'm slightly worried that they might have taken their versatility a little too far for some people's taste.
June 2003
Ken Bladen - Folk Northwest

I just had to review this CD as soon as I found out how the name of the duo came about. H from Hilary Spencer and g from Grant Baynham = Hg the chemical symbol for Mercury, the liquid metal often referred to as Quicksilver. The CD is, however, liquid gold with the amalgamation of the golden voice of hilary with the mercurial guitar playing and songwriting talents of Grant. So we have two performers on their "metal" both with special properties who on this CD (nearly the symbol for Cadmium) merge to produce an outstanding mixture. Usually mercury spoils gold but on this CD a different chemistry is at work and the gold is burnished brighter when the fabulous voice is allied (alloyed?) to the extremely busy acoustic guitar.

"Middleton Hiring Fair" is a lively uptempo number that really bounces along with great spirit. The majority of the songs are penned by Grant with strong evidence of the humour and wry observation that secured him regular appearances on "That's Life". In particular "The Curse" details the viewpoint of a recently dumped female who wishes that her ex-lover's new lady's back "sprouts a rash of reptilian scales".

All the tracks are delivered with panache and style, no mean achievement with the range of songs on offer. My favourite is "The Halls of Meroniel" in which a "shining girl with gold in her hair" is spirited away by "an old man, grave and grey". Fits in rather well with gold and mercury and is well delivered by QuickSilver.

Variety abounds with "La Vie En Rose", Jake Thackray's "The Hair Of The Widow Of Bridlington" performed with great delight by the winged messengers, "Double Yodel" by Lou and Peter Berryman which is good fun with some impeccable timing and Grant's "No-One Writes A Blues Song Anymore" (a title wich surely self-destructed once the song was completed).

So to summarise it is really a showcase for Hilary's wide-ranging vocal talents, Grant's songwriting and formidable guitar playing, and a very enjoyable and entertaining experience. I can guarantee that this CD, combining the chemical symbols of gold and mercury anagramatically will give you A Hug.
Autumn 2003
Hannah Winn-Rossiter - What's On Folks

When you've one of those days that you just want to forget, this is the album you need to relax and chill out to. It boasts a mix of jazz, blues, folk and comedy - a song for every emotion. Grant Baynham's extraordinary guitar playing and Hilary Spencer's excellent vocals are a superb combination. One of my favourite tracks is "Middleton Hiring Fair", crisp and guaranteed to get your toes tapping. I loved "The Hair Of The Widow Of Bridlington" as it tells a story and I listened intently to every word. "Here's That Rainy Day" is wonderful to relax to. Thoroughly recommended.
June 2003
Steve Leach - Shreds and Patches

Not while I have a hole in my bottom, I thought when I first heard this CD. But then I listened to it again. And read the sleeve notes. And did some homework on the members of the duo. And realised that they had to have their tongues firmly in their cheeks. And listened to the CD again. And again. And again. . .

'Cos she can sing. . .and he can play the guitar. . .Really sing. . .Really play the guitar. The presentation of the CD is really slick and polished. Very professional. I found I liked their music. . .Mainly. The first track is "Middleton Hiring Fair" which has leanings towards the traditional in presentation and I liked the words which are meant to be heard. . .i.e. they have meaning.

I thought the "Double Yodel" was worth listening to as well, 'cos it's funny. The inclusion a Jake Thackray song nearly did for me but hey. . .it takes all sorts and they do it well, even better than the original. And they must be clever: "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" is from Franz Schubert! Who? And there are blues songs as well and very enjoyable they are. And stuff in French. It was at this stage that I thankfully realised where I had seen Hilary before and the CD started to make sense. She normally stands on the right-hand side of the stage with the Mrs Ackroyd Band and I realised that they were no entirely 100% serious. . .I am right, am I not? Please? Grant plays the guitar and has serious history behind him. I have no idea how he plays the fast scalar elements and really don't want to know. Just enjoy!

Did I want to sing any of the songs in the collection? Well, no, it's not that sort of CD but did I enjoy listening to it? Yes I did, despite myself, very much. And I just know they will be even better live.
Summer 2003