Album Review: Futtock Shrouds

Futtock Shrouds is the second album and first full length album by She Shanties. Formed in 2011, She Shanties perform all over the UK and Europe and are an all female a capella group. As they put it, “we’re women, we sing shanties”. Now many may be wondering about the album title but it is most appropriate for an album involving shanties and songs of the sea. Futtock Shrouds are rope, wire or chain links in a traditional square rigged ship under the crow’s nest. So already this album is more educational than most; it’s always good to learn something new every day.

We begin the album with “Whiskey Johnny” and your immediately hit with the precise harmony the band has. Solo during the versus and full group during chorus does give it a crew kind of feel to the song. Now I hear the Pride O’ Bedlam version so it’s welcome to hear a different take on it. I really enjoy the end of the song about coming back for more.

“The Light From the Lighthouse” follows in the same style as “Johnny”, with a soloist and then the entire group. This rendition feels almost like a gospel version of the song which I am really digging. There are some interesting things going on during the all, some highs and lows that are all evident that really gives the song a lot of range. The mixing of the song has to be commended, one of the best I’ve heard in an a capella recording. LOVE this rendition, may very well be my favorite version of this song.

Up next we have “Noah’s Ark” and it immediately has the band living up to their name. This absolutely sounds like an old sea shanty. We also have a third different soloist I think and that’s always a welcome sight to me when a band is able to spread the heavy lifting around.Not only that but that each one is stout at the task and brings a different element to each song. May it was just the title, but I was not expecting to having such a strong reaction to this song.

“Shenandoah” for some reason took me immediately to some Clann An Drumma songs. I’m just gonna assume it’s the accent, but it is really working on this song. Maybe a bit too slow for the fourth song in the album, but that’s personal taste. This is a fantastically diverse song that is taking my ears all over the place in the best way possible.

Now “Ben Backstay” could easily be found in the Musical Blades or The Jolly Rogers. The story of a bo’sun that could easily be turned into a bawdy song since it’s already borderline there. A fun little number that keeps that strong shanty feeling, which I am enjoying. It’s not just the well known she shanties, the ladies are pulling from all over and is really appreciated. The highlight of the song for me is the always take it neat towards the end of the song.

“One More Day” is a song we are familiar with here in the states and this rendition has their own touch on it. The chorus is how we are used to hearing the song but the deeper soloist is unexpected at first. The chorus singing is at the same level of “Lighthouse”; in fact this also has the gospel feel to it. I think I would see the audience sing along with this song.

There is similarities often between railroad and she shanties and “Hog-Eye Man” is a great example of that. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this song but I am really digging it. It brings me a bit to “Rattlin Bog” but I’m not quite sure why. Again, like “Ark”, I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this song.

“Waiting for the Day” has lyrics that almost everyone can relate to. I can already see this song being a huge audience favorite based on the subject matter alone. The fact that it sounds absolutely stunning is an added bonus. It just goes to show how people haven’t changed all that much over the centuries as this song could have been written this year. “Lighthouse” now has a challenger for favorite song on this album.

Maybe the most known traditional song on the album, “Sugar In The Hold” knocks your socks off with that first chorus. We often make the turn it to 11 jokes when we play pirate-core songs, but these ladies turn it to 11 on the chorus. I would put this against any version of “Sugar” and once again I find myself with maybe a new favorite of the song. This following “Day” and “Hog-Eye” it appears She Shanties have found their stride on the album.

“Bound Down Trinidad” is another shanty I am not familiar with and to be honest that makes me sad. We again find myself taken to church but not so much gospel. No this feels much more, Gregorian Chant, if that makes sense. The deep harmony they achieve is touching me down in the cockles of my heart. Nothing against the soloist but I almost want the entire song nothing but the harmony, I’m enjoying it that much.

I misspoke earlier, “Bully in the Alley” is the most well known Shanty on this album and they definitely do it justice. Already this song has more energy to it than I find in most renditions. Again we find multiple things going on in the chorus that takes the song to a whole different level. How they are able to get this level of melody with just singing is fantastic.

We end with the appropriately named “The Farewell Shanty” and what a glorious end. Listening to it I am actually sad I’ll likely never get to hear this at the end of a faire day as it would be such an end. Not a sing along like “Health to the Company”, but still touching you deep down in your soul. Much like Ye Banished Privateers and Pat Razket ended their albums with the exact right song so has She Shanties.

At the Inn we only really have one other true a capella group, and their all men. She Shanties, with this album, have marked their spot as the premier a capella women’s shanty group in the world. I didn’t necessarily consider myself a huge a capella fan but this album very well may have me rethinking that statement. This album has proven these ladies are masters of their craft and keep the shanty tradition alive and well. If you get a chance make sure to catch them live as I expect it’s a wondrous event to behold.