Covers 2 (Show of Hands album)
| Covers 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Show of Hands with Miranda Sykes | ||||
| Released | 17 November 2010 | |||
| Recorded | October 2010 | |||
| Studio | Riverside Studios, Exeter, Devon | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 51:33 | |||
| Label | Hands on Music | |||
| Producer | Mark Tucker | |||
| Show of Hands with Miranda Sykes chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Spiral Earth |   |
| UK Folk Music | favourable |
Covers 2 is the fourteenth studio album by British folk duo Show of Hands. An official collaboration with double bassist and vocalist Miranda Sykes, who had been the duo's unofficial third member for six years, it is the duo's second album of cover versions, following Covers (2000). The album was intended for "friends and fans" of the duo, and an attempt to record songs that the duo had played live for some time. The album was rproduced by Mark Tucker and recorded as a mostly "straightfoward" recording with little overdubs or extra production work.
The album was released in mid-November 2010 as a limited edition album to be sold from the duo's Autumn tour that promoted the album, and was also released for a short time on the duo's website. As such, the album was not released in the shops or as a download. The album was a critical success, with Spiral Earth commending it as "the sound of one of the finest duos in English roots music having a blast".
In 2009, Show of Hands released their fourteenth studio album Arrogance Ignorance and Greed, produced by Stu Hanna of the English folk duo Megson, with additional production by Mark Tucker. The album followed a painfully emotion period for Steve Knightley where members of his family battled serious illnesses, which led to the album becoming particularly personal and darker than previous Show of Hands albums, aided by Hanna's direct and sharp production. The album was also very politically concerned. The album was released to a positive critical reception, many praising the darker tone to the album, although Phil Beer of the duo stated that the album did not sit well with several fans. The album entered the UK Album Chart at number 170, becoming their first album to chart.
In 2010, the duo performed a live cover version of Don Henley's hit "The Boys of Summer" on the Radcliffe & Maconie show on BBC Radio 6 Music. The performance was acclaimed and prompted the duo to record an album of cover versions, their second after Covers (2000), or third including the traditional folk music release Folk Music (1998). Covers was recorded as a "straightforward" album without any multitracking or overdubs, whilst Folk Music was only released as a limited edition album for the duo's fan club mailing order and at the band's live performances for a short time. Thus, they decided their new album of cover versions should have an influence from both feats. The duo named the album Covers 2 and set for a mid-November release.
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