Folksongs for a Nuclear Village was
Shadowfax's sixth album and its first not to be released on the label Windham Hill. The only remaining original members
Chuck Greenberg (saxophones and flutes) and
G.E. Stinson (guitars) were surrounded for this album by
Phil Maggini (bass, keyboards),
Stuart Nevitt (drums, percussion), Charles Bisharat (violin), and
David Lewis (keyboards), with additional support in the percussion department provided by longtime collaborators
Emil Richards and
Michael Spiro. All band members contributed at least one piece, something new for
Shadowfax, usually dominated by the writing team of Stinson and
Greenberg. The music on this album was first created for Louise Durkee's dance performance. "The Firewalker," a joyful melody, sets the mood. With its lead accordion melody, "Madagascar Cafe" sounds suspiciously European. "No Society" is another cheerful highlight. Fans of the band's moodier side had to satisfy themselves with "Behind Green Eyes."
Folksongs for a Nuclear Village doesn't have the evocative strength or musicianship appeal of earlier opuses like
Shadowfax and
Shadowdance. It floats by gently, but somewhat unnoticed -- too harmless, it fails to touch or impress. This is not the best place to start exploring the band's catalogue.