Leon Rosselson

The World Turned Upside Down
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The Liberty Tree
Life and Writings of Thomas Paine
with Rob Johnson
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The Last Chance
with Reem Kelani and Janet Russel
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Rosslesongs

Guess What They're Selling
at the Happiness Counter

Reviews

Leon Rosselson, Reem Kelani & Janet Russell: The Last Chance
Fuse Records: CFCD 008
Taken for the most part from Leon's back catalogue, this uncompromising and provocative collection comprises 'eight songs on Israel/Palestine', which makes for compelling if uncomfortable listening. These songs, which reflect Leon's lifelong emotional involvement with the Israel/Palestine conflict are unashamedly political with a capital P and this collection of observational commentaries though displaying his typically clever wordplay and exigent musical arrangements, not surprisingly, falls short on humour. The one exception, the short satirical concluding song Loyal Soldiers, and the two breaks from Leon's musical documentary , the plaintive Arabic qasidah , Yafa by Reem Kelani and the beautiful Song of the Olive Tree movingly performed by Janet Russell, do little to lift the spirits. Conflict is an emotive issue and part of the attraction of folk song which actively records the conflicts of the past, is to sing about and listen to ballads and broadsides which chronicle wars and injustices in times of yore. This attraction, though possibly of greater relevance, appears less so when history is being written. I suspect you'll be unlikely to find this CD on the shelves of the big record stores but The Last Chance the name of a night-club in Beersheva back in the '50's incidentally, as well as the title 12 minute track, is of course available via Leon's web-site. All profits from its sale will go to 'Medical Aid For Palestinians'. (Editor's note Now available from Amazon, see above)
Brian Cope
Review from Folk London - June 2010