Legendary British folk-rock alchemists Fairport Convention return to the scene with "Over the Next Hill", their first new studio album since 2002’s acclaimed anniversary celebration XXXV. Recorded after nearly three years of constant touring through the US and UK, Over the Next Hill finds the longtime Fairport lineup of Simon Nicol (guitar/vocals), Dave Pegg (bass/vocals), Chris Leslie (mandolin/fiddle/vocals), Ric Sanders (fiddle), and Gerry Conway (drums) scaling new heights of spry ensemble interplay and rich vocal choruses.
The first band to fuse the dynamics and energy of rock music to a repertoire of traditional British Isles songs, tunes, and ballads, Fairport has a remarkable legacy stretching back to the mid-1960’s. Over the Next Hill continues to build on that legacy, introducing a new arrangement of a traditional song ("The Wassail Song") alongside original and contemporary instrumental and vocal material. Longtime fans will welcome a rousing new version of the band’s British hit, the Bob Dylan-penned "Si Tu Dois Partir," which has resurfaced with newfound energy in the band’s current live sets.