I believe that at least once a week everyone should listen to some new music they haven't heard before, just to keep us in touch with the abundance of infinity and this weekend I got to do it twice ... so a double dose of infinity for me! Here's the other CD I listened to earlier today...
Findlay Napier & the Bar Room Mountaineers
When Harry Met Charlie
The Haymaker Recording Company
A three track CD containing two versions of the title track When Harry Met Charlie, one slightly more acoustic, a delightful story of romantic musings with a twist, as we gradually discover that the would-have-been lovers are in the recollection of an old lady, remembering a holiday romance and a lover long gone.
A slightly disturbing but powerful theme, that the emotions and sensations of the distant romance of our youth will stay just as invigerating and alive in the memory vaults of old age, as they were in the reality of all those years before. Emotions played out again in our lonesome dreams, passing the hours before the completion of our lives.
The chorus is catchy and if this song is an example of Findlay Napier's storytelling craft, then I for one will seek out more.
Napier and his band reject being subscribed to a genre, but in a written review one has to make some musical references. The sound is indie-folk, when listening and not knowing anything about Findlay Napier's background I was trying to work out whether his sung accent was Irish or Scottish, I guessed correctly at Scottish though I couldn't help but hear strains of the Saw Doctors in there somewhere. Their influences are cited as including classic folk influences as well as "a more versatile selection of artists like Ben Folds and Toim Waits".
The middle track, Out All Night, is a slowly evolving, dark observation of an urban street scene at night time, slow and bassy, Dick Gaughan meets drum and bass.
Findlay Napier is one to look out for. When Harry Met Charlie deserves to become a classic, I have a feeling it will be running through my head for some time to come.
Pete Millington
Spaghetti Gazetti
Direct link to the Spaghetti Gazetti review...
