Albion band newcomer Joe with his brother both live and in the studio. The opening set of tunes under the name “The Road to Heswall” feature Ben on electric guitar & bass, and Joe on fiddle, a lengthy number, but the road is a long one. Both are excellent players which they show to good effect immediately. This is repeated several times through the album as there are more electric sets of tunes including “Fiddle Castro’s Return to Gallway” and “The Liverpool Hornpipe” which includes Keith Hancock on melodeon among the musicians. “Clockwork Duck” is an even faster set of tunes, with even more of a fun feeling to them.
Acoustic, and live is “The Kitchen Girl Set”, only one chance to get all those fast parts right, and they do. “Comb you Hair” is a slower set of tunes, again recorded live at Lands End June 1995, with Ben contributing some great bass parts. Again from that night comes “Too Much Alcohol”, a blues number, and one of the most requested items in folk clubs. Ben is on vocals and bass, Joe shows that he is something of a guitarist as well as fiddler. Ben also adds the harmonica, and a disclaimer in the sleeve notes about not being able to play it. No wonder it is a most requested number.
Throughout the album there are songs, on which Ben is aided in the vocals department by Alison Symons, sometimes as a harmony, others as a duet, subject matter covering “Off to War”, introspective looks at the night skies, and lost first love. All in all a varied album of excellent playing, down to the slow electric guitar on the (almost) closing tune “You know that feeling”. Don’t turn it off there though, wait and see what happens... A tune very much in the style of the Dave Swarwick and Simon Nicol days as a duo, some incredible playing, with asides thrown in for fun.
Joe is a fiddler I’m sure you will hear a lot more of and about over the years, he’s only 21 now and whether with Ben, or the Albion band he deserves to be heard.
-The Ledge August 1997
Chester brothers Ben and Joe Broughton title their album "The Continuing Adventures of..." as if part of an ongoing saga. Well whatever the reason the music on this particular episode is intriguingly good. "The Road to Heswall" crosses traditional music with funky bass and jazz-rock guitar in a fresh concoction while "Kitchen Girl Set" is their usual gig opener. Ben and Joe attack their music with almost reckless abandon but underneath there lies a deep respect for tradition. "I Still Want You" shows them more than capable songwriters with a penchant for creating haunting evocative works. "Midnight Skies" benefits from Alison Symons' backing vocals shining out and adding an extra foil for Ben's lead vocals. Ben and Joe Broughton in "The Continuing Adventures of..." have arrived at a fresh and ingenious take on traditional music and well crafted original songs. Here's to the next adventure.
-Rock'n'Reel
The Broughtons, brothers both and almost twins, but not quite......they speak as one and finish each other's sentences, I know, I met them last weekend. They're Desperate Dan and Dennis the Menace flung into the context of roots music. The whole of The Continuing Adventures of....is one technicolour Beano or Dandy Annual, Where our heroes pull stunts, gaffes, have a high old time and get Dad to slip on a banana skin. Oh how my sides ached....all that's missing is Beryl The Peril, but then perhaps she isn't because along came Daring Adventures after a few tracks- The Broughtons go electric, and kick ass in a splendid style. You want the Dransfields gone sonic, here it is. The North West is only just waking up to what the likes of Keith Hancock and Ashley Hutchings know already - Broughton music means added fibre and a healthier lifestyle.
- Folk Roots
Ben & Joe are also known as part of "Daring Adventures", and some of the tracks on this CD have the whole band on them. Band or duo, they're obviously having fun and are fun to hear. The best track is a set of instrumentals with just fiddle and bass guitar, and unlikely combination that works so well it's spine-tingling. And listening to the first part of "Fiddle Castro's Return to Galway" I thought if this were a sound-track I'd be scared to watch the film!
- Folk on Tap
"When they took the floor the brothers Broughton brought on (ouch!) musicality, virtuosity, excitement and wit in one great big entertaining bundle of togetherness. Read their publicity leaflet and for once you can believe everything you read. We've already booked them for a return visit."
-Ray Black, Friday13thClub, Harrogate
"Fast-moving, flashy yet warm and swinging, the Broughton's could set an icebox on fire. Aerodynamic and well drilled, comfortable and confident - this is the sound of real talent."
-Clive Pownceby, The Bothy, Southport
