Written by Richie Oliver
As declared by Stephen Colbert in January, “2021 is the year of the sea shanty!” Gaining popularity on the video app TikTok, sea shanties have seen a revival.
Dating as far back as the 17th century, shanties were mainly used as work songs, with different rhythmic patterns used to haul anchors, sway halyards, and raise sails. Through oral tradition, different shanty groups have kept these songs alive, with The Fisherman’s Friends being the most popular group in the world that does this.
Hailing from Port Isaac, a small fishing village in North Cornwall, England, the group rose to prominence in 2010 after signing a deal with Universal Music. With their debut album under Universal hitting the UK charts at number nine and becoming certified gold, a film was produced on the band in 2019, propelling them more into the zeitgeist.
The Fisherman’s Friends released their newest EP, “Shanty, Lobster & Beer,” on February 12, 2021, via Island Records. This EP features four songs from “Keep Hauling,” the soundtrack from the film, as well as a newly recorded version of “Sloop John B.”
What I love about this album is the feeling of camaraderie that shanties bring; you truly believe that all the members are the very best of friends. Each song on the album is filled with story and culture, telling of times long gone.
When their sea shanties hit the ears, you are instantly transported to one of two places; an old tall-ship during the 1700s, or the small fishing village of Port Isaac, with its small, winding roads, where everyone knows you and you know everyone. Every track is a standout, with each song giving you a small taste of life at sea.
“Shanty Man” gets you in a rhythmic way, while “Little Liz I Love You” is a bar shanty, not used on a ship. The latter really shows the vocal quality of each member, and each of them sound perfect.
“South Australia,” the band’s most popular song, is the first song with accompaniment, adding to the nautical sound of the music they perform. A capstan shanty, this song shows the form and function of sea shanties coming together beautifully.
The next song, “The Coast of High Barbary,” tells of the plight of two ships from England. The bass of the group is featured heavily in the piece, adding to the spookiness of the song, and creating an atmosphere of sharing stories around a fire.
The final song, “Sloop John B,” is a Bahamian folk song, made famous by The Beach Boys in 1966. The Fisherman’s Friends take the shanty route with the song, going acapella and letting the story of the song really sing.
The Fisherman’s Friends can be found on Twitter at @Fishy_Friends; if you're on board with the sea shanty revival, let us know by tweeting us at @lgndsoftmrw. Happy sailing!
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