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Hard to believe a week has gone by since the MAV!S project was live on the Revellers Stage (see review HERE) and to find out that I missed seeing Candi Staton!

Yes the legend Canzetta Staton was in the building (er. tent) and I had no idea but then, I wasn’t too sure about the MAV!S project. This was a little bit of a surprise as Beedle is one of the most mentioned artists on FLY as he’s so prolific (whether it be with Horace Andy on Inspiration Information or way back to his Afro Art days) but the idea he had with Darren Morris that you could get some like minded folks together to produced an album from listening to Mavis Staples and the Staples Singers?

Nobody can deny their place in the hierarchy of music and Ashley is reported as saying the Mavis Staples and the Staples Singers are “the glue in our DNA, not only was their recorded work amazing but their involvement in the Civil Rights movement really meant something to me” Indeed, I was most impressed when the current Mrs. Hectic bought me a Staple Singers LP early on in our relationship as with Pops and Mavis, the Staple Singers were one of the major acts (amongst the many) on the Stax label at its most prolific and relevant best.

Now you couldn’t really have a tribute to such a group without vocals so over the past three years Beedle and Morris put together the musical backing tracks and then got a broad church of vocal talent to join in.

Indeed, I saw the light after seeing the mighty John Turrell (of Smoove & Turrell) at the Big Chill belting out ‘What You Looking For’ with the live band. Ashley was clearly enjoying this on at the back of the stage as he joined in on keyboard/percussion.

However, possibly the most emotional track is with Ed Harcourt (last seen on FLY with Erik Truffaz on Arkhangelsk with ‘Puzzles & Riddles’ and now I’m struggling to get past that track.

But you’d be a fool not to as there’s plethora of vocalists include Lambchop’s Kurt Wagner that’s a touch theatrical but I’m strangely drawn to the blues of Cerys Matthews on ‘Nemesis Required’.

You’ll also find an impressive performances by Saint Etienne’s Sarah Cracknell, Crazy P’s Danielle Moore, Disa from Reykjavik and Dear Reader’s Cherilyn MacNeil all throwing their heart and soul into the MAV!S mix plus Edwyn Collins (who has his own album coming out soon with a load of modern day Indie rock types supporting as Collins’ recovers from his illness) ends the set with a vulnerable sing song as he’s ‘Feeling Lucky’.

But talkin’ of soul, nobody can out soul Ms. Staton who gets both inspirational elements spot on with a track called ‘Revolution’.

So don’t expect any of Ashley’s day job dance tent music (even Chris Coco goes trip-poet in true Blue Room style) as this is a proper tribute to Mavis Staples and her version of ‘A House In Not A Home’ in a “Mother, I stretch out my hands to thee” way.

I didn’t see Paul ‘Liner Notes’ Morley in the crowd last Sunday afternoon. He was at Big Chill giving a talk on Michael Jackson in the Words In Motion tent earlier (when Nicola Conte and José James were on) so he could have been and with the benefit of hind sight, I with I had seen it all. All Hail Mavis.

Tracklisting:
1: Gangs of Rome feat. Kurt Wagner (5:01)
2: What You Looking For feat. John Turrell (4:51)
3: Nemesis Required feat. Cerys Matthews (4:38)
4: Revolution feat. Candi Staton (5:29)
5: Puzzles & Riddles feat. Ed Harcourt (6:14)
6: When I Walk With You (Heartbreak Song) feat. Sarah Cracknell (5:11)
7: Sinful Love feat.Disa (5:24)
8: Dreamers (Interlude) feat. Chris Coco (1:30)
9: Let Your Love Shine feat. Danielle Moore (3:59)
10: 4:14 feat. Cherilyn MacNeil (5:26)
11: Feeling Lucky feat. Edwyn Collins (5:05)

Links:
www.k7.com
Festival Republic presents The Big Chill, 5th to 8th August 2010 Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Malvern Hills, Ledbury, Herefordshire www.bigchill.net