Reviewed by Chris Tozer

Water Into Wine Band was formed at the start of the '70s by three folk guitarists and a classical musician who met up whilst studying at Cambridge. Their "live" set of largely introspective story-songs and debut album 'Hill Climbing For Beginners' soon established the group on the fledgling Jesus Music scene alongside the likes of Malcolm and Alwyn and Parchment. After graduation in 1974 WIWB turned professional and, by alternating between church coffee bars and the increasingly popular folk club scene, their future looked promising. However, after undertaking a five week tour of the American mid-west and east coast the penniless and tired troubadours performed their swan song during a Greenbelt rainstorm in August1976. Happily, after attending that farewell gig I was soon the proud owner of their final vinyl offering - the now highly collectible 'Harvest Time'. Hearing again those melancholic musings on scratch-free CD I find the album still an evergreen source of joy in its silver jubilee year. A long-ago rural theme of love and labour pervades a set of unhurried stories sung in tandem with the rustic melodies of Bill Thorpe's fiddle and countless percussion instruments. Lest we forget their student origins, the band change gear and, aided by McKenzie Cooke, recall their quirky humour by imitating the sound of a gramophone needle jumping the grooves of a vinyl record on the '30s standard "Moonglow". Maybe, if we all go out and buy a couple, this CD could even herald a reunion tour. Now's there's a thought.


Chris Tozer has at various times written songs and musicals, collected stick insects, taught children and promoted the cause of CCM in darkest Gillingham.