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Peter Knight – Too Late
For Shadows (Own Label PKCD 002)
After a brief introduction via the JSD Band some of the first ‘fiddle’ music I experienced emanated from the wonderful
Steeleye Span album “Below The Salt”. I don’t know quite what it was but the warmth and joy of the performance
was all encompassing. So much so that it was enough to make me want to immerse myself in this (at the time) un-hip
style of music. To say that Peter Knight’s influence on my choice of career was a life changing experience would
be an understatement for here was a musician who was not only brilliant in performance but also whose very soul
seemed on display through his instrument of choice. With this latest recording he has unerringly hit the mark with
his choice of material by including a rich mix of folk based tunes such as the brooding ‘Lark In The Morning’ and
his own composition the impish ‘Lisinsky’. Like an artist working at his easel Mr Knight paints his canvas with
positive brush strokes interspersed with splashes of colour that ignite the senses of the listener as if you were
interloping on a private viewing of his best works. The almost medieval spirit (tambourine and tabor like percussion)
conveyed by another of his melodies ‘Katrina Of Moorpark’ will prove an inspiration to any aspiring musician with
subtle use of dynamics and how to keep the interest in a single tune going for 7:10 minutes. The melody is similar
in style to the classic ‘Tam Lin’ but is imbued with a sense of fun sometimes missing when performed by other artists.
If you’re looking for something a little different then check out the title track ‘Too Late For Shadows’ that features
the lead line placed on top of a bed of pizzicato strings or the track ‘Moulin Rogue’ with it’s Grapelli-esque
bonhomie. This is the kind of album that crosses genres without alienating the more traditional followers of this
wonderful musician. If you are looking for inspiration then this CD is highly recommended!
For further information check out the website at www.peterknight.net
Pete Fyfe
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