By cave 
Echoes of the Tide: A Ballad of Rebellion and Roaming
Handkerchief’s Mutiny Ballads & Fishguarding Songs is a wild, genre-blending adventure that takes listeners on a journey through European roots music, rock & roll, ska, gypsy, surf, calypso, and rumba. This Antwerp-based band, led by Christof Annaert, has crafted an album that feels like a chaotic yet beautifully orchestrated seafaring tale, filled with energy, melancholy, and theatrical storytelling2.
The album opens with They Drive By Night, a melancholic yet rhythmic track that sets the tone for the eclectic mix of sounds to come. Rain brings a fusion of Balkan gypsy music and dramatic fanfare, while Ballad of Clarence Alexander feels like a drunken musette, rich with accordion and brass. The band’s ability to shift moods is evident in Dance of the Rubber Man, which starts as a slow fanfare before exploding into a Balkan-style celebration.
Annaert’s whiskey-soaked vocals add a raw, lived-in quality to tracks like A Ship Leaves A Harbour Every Day, which wouldn’t feel out of place in Tom Waits’ repertoire. Meanwhile, Mathilda surprises with a surf-rock intro that transitions into upbeat ska, showcasing the band’s playful unpredictability. The album closes with Soldier’s Lament, a song originally written for the graphic novel Red Rider, bringing a reflective and somber end to the journey.
Handkerchief’s ability to weave together so many musical influences without losing cohesion is impressive. Mutiny Ballads & Fishguarding Songs is a vibrant, theatrical, and deeply engaging album that keeps listeners on their toes. Whether you’re drawn to its gypsy rhythms, rock & roll swagger, or melancholic ballads, there’s something here for everyone.
Tracklist
A1 They Drive By Night
A2 Rain
A3 Human Sense
A4 Ballad of Clarence Alexander
A5 Dance of The Rubber Man
A6 A Ship Leaves a Harbour Everyday
B1 Mathilda
B2 Blues on Parade
B3 The Basement
B4 It’s Good
B5 Den Ontsnappingskoning
B6 Soldier’s Lament (Red Rider Soundtrack)
Vinyl Specs
| Label: | Starman Records – SMR303 |
|---|---|
| Format: | Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo |
| Country: | Belgium |
| Released: |
Streaming
Links
https://www.discogs.com/release/16116429-Handkerchief-Mutiny-Ballads-Fishguarding-Songs