Nothing Spoken

"This new CD by the four-man team puts them up there with the likes of Coope, Boyes and Simpson - it's that good! The production by John Adams is top notch, too, and a special mention must go to the sound engineer, Matt Bernard, who manages to capture the group's "live" sound perfectly. They could almost be there with you in your own front room.

It's the singing though, by Sid Long, Chris Orme, Phil Hardcastle and Stephen Bailey, which is so outstanding, helped by a wonderfully eclectic choice of materal."
(JM, Folk Diary October & November 2003) Full Review

So well chosen is their material and so unpredictable yet well worked are their harmonies that they imbue the song rather than swamp it and that allows the song to reach the listener unhindered.
Dave Sutherland, Nottingham Evening Pos Full Review

Ewan MacColl, Billy Bragg, Maggie Holland, Michael Marra and Pete Morton are just a few of the names on offer and the interpretations of their songs are excellent. Their arrangements are cleverly structured and totally unpredictable which is why they are at the forefront of this country’s a-capella harmony outfits.
Dave Sutherland, Nottingham Evening Post

"it is the juxtaposition of old and new; funny and angry; happy and sad that makes the CD interesting and different.

The singing is clear and tuneful with precise diction and some very pleasant harmonies. ... this CD will appeal to anyone that likes good harmony singing. I would place them somewhere between Coope, Boyes and Simpson and an English Barbershop style.
Chris (Yorke) Bartram, Shreds and Patches, Autumn 2003 Full Review

Notts Alliance have a policy of doing "songs which we like", taking in the works of Pete Morton, Billy Bragg, Maggie Holland, Les Barker and traditional stuff as well. I particularly like Michael Marra's tale of a relationship sundered and a record collection divided, Beefheart and Bones, with the line "We are as alike as Gladys Knight and Doris Day". Impeccable as the harmonies are, attack is not their thing. Whether it's John Tams' Scarecrow or Pete Morton's soothing title track, they keep to pretty much the same, even level. Fine singing throughout, an open minded approach to repertoire, but moments of intensity are in short supply.
(Nick Beale, Folk Roots October 2003)

"..if you appreciate the idiom of unaccompanied singing being stretched intuitively over a wide span of interesting repertoire, then you’re likely to find much to enjoy in this release."
(David Kidman, Stirrings Magazine, Autumn 2003) Full Review

Out of the Darkness

"All in all, a very enjoyable album, greatly helped, I feel sure, by Barry Coope's sensitive production. The recent advent of Coope, Boyes, and Simpson and the Voice Squad have put unaccompanied harmony singing back in the public eye, and Notts Alliance, though lacking the perfection of finish of the other two groups, are continuing that process. I know people who say that CBS are too "smooth", and the Voice Squad too "churchy" Well, I think they'll like this."
(Peter Wood, English Dance & Song Magazine Summer 1997)

"Notts Alliance may follow the well trodden English folk route of four blokes singing harmony but are open to making modern songs work in their style. Aside from traditional stuff, there’s two by Pete Morton, ditto Richard Thompson and John Kirkpatrick’s Old King Coal (a carbonised John Barleycorn). You’d expect a group of their collective experience to turn in a decent Derby Ram, as they certainly do, but even better are two of the contemporary tracks. Jez Lowe’s breezy Durham Gaol ("…I never was a thief until they caught me") is at the far end of the personal responsibility acceptance scale from Maggie Holland’s beautifully written story of guilt by association, Perfumes of Arabia, but both are sung to maximum effect."
(Nick BealeFolk Roots Review Aug/Sept 1997)

Reviews from the Clubs

Swan Folk Club, Loughborough

Not having seen them before, I didn't quite know what to expect. Their songs were a mix of traditional - 'Blackwaterside' - and contemporary ('Nothing Spoken', 'Salt of the Earth', 'Can't take it with you', 'Another train') to mention a few. There were also comical songs such as 'Everything Glows' (Les Barker/Cole Porter), 'Hard Cheese of Old England', Micheal Marra's 'Splitting up' * and a couple of seasonal Xmas songs. Their performance was both faultless and professional, and I enjoyed every minute of it. ... Definitely worth seeing them in 2004.
(John Preston, Dec 2003)

* Micheal Marra's song is 'Beefheart and Bones'

Chesterfield Attic Club

If you have not seen this act then make sure you see them at your next opportunity - their experience shows, and their two sets were a moving mixture of traditional and modern protest songs by singer/songwriters from the US and UK. Each song was a skillful arrangement of individual voices adding depth, colour and meaning to the words and music.

Chesterfield Advertiser 19th Jan 2001

Traditions at the Tiger

Notts Alliance's performance, in my opinion, outshone any previous times they've been up in the 'top room', and that takes some doing - honestly what excellence! A load of new material dovetailing with some familiar favourites - 'A Sailor's Life', 'Blackwater Side', 'Searching for Lambs' ... I shan't go on, but I did not notice any weak spot. When I've said before that Notts Alliance are the top a cappella group in the country, it is no idle praising. Judging by these sets, and opinion from many of the audience, I've not witnessed any who can touch 'em.

Members Newsletter February 2001

Bingham Folk Club

There have been various permutations of Notts Alliance since the old days of the Nottingham Traditional Music Club but the present edition have certainly been together for a lot of years now. Well accepted as being among the country`s higher echelon of close harmony groups there skill is recognised far wider than the East Midlands through their appearances at festivals, concerts and clubs throughout the country. Their last album ”Out Of The Darkness” released about three years ago showed how comfortable they are with both traditional and contemporary songs and you can expect this sort of mix at any club appearance.
Dave Sutherland, Nottingham Evening Post