The Legendary Ten Seconds

Musically we're in the realms of trad-folk, and little else would fit. However, the band do allow more modern aspects to creep in. 'Lord Anthony Woodville' is pretty much a modern rock song with rock drumming and electric guitars. There's also the use of synths throughout the album to flesh-out the sound and touches like this prevent it from becoming too much like an olde-worlde folk album. The humour helps too, and serious folkies might not have included the post-celebration hangover that comes with the mutterings of "Ah, my head hurts, I'll have extra duties for a month for this one. I wonder who won?" at the end of 'The Battle Of Barnet Song'. For a man whose media coverage this past year has been so great, and who's had plays and societies dedicated to him, divulging the whole story here would be lengthy. Musically The Legendary Ten Seconds successfully combine their modern guitar sound with traditional music of long ago. The instrumental 'Fanfare For The King' is indeed a grand brass fanfare, but it also includes modern instruments, and like much of the album sees two worlds colliding. There are plenty of surprises in terms of sound and much thought to the lyrics. A folk-rock opera about a historical figure might not look good on paper, but by bringing past and present together musically and having a great command of atmosphere, The Legendary Ten Seconds have managed to pull it off.

This album is not just a treat, it’s a royal banquet, both for music lovers in general and for Ricardians in particular. Richard’s life is celebrated with superior tunes, lyrics and production. The music is peculiarly intimate, as if you are in the room as it is being played. It is also novel, exceptional and well worth hearing. You may not like folk or rock, let alone folk-rock, but if you give it a chance, you may be very agreeably surprised.