Fabian Holland
Album: Fabian Holland
Label: Rooksmere
Tracks: 9
Website: http://www.fabianholland.com/

I recently saw Fabian Holland play support to Larkin Poe at Wigan Parish Church. I was impressed by what I heard. Indeed, I was so impressed that I specifically asked to be able to this, his debut album. Having seen him play live, I had a feeling that this was going to be a cracker of an album and so it is.

It was immediately apparent to me that here is a young songwriter of considerable talent. On top of that, Fabian is also an amazing guitarist. He was taught to play by his father from an early age [seven, to be precise] and then studied under the late, much-missed Eric Roche.

The aim of Fabian and producer Mark Hutchinson in making this album was to keep things simple and direct. It's basically Fabian's guitar and vocals with occasional subtle contributions from Tim Harries [double bass], Guy Fletcher [fiddle], Simon Care [melodeon] and Will Pound [harmonica].

What is striking about Fabian [as well as his stunning guitar playing] is his ability to tell stories, in song, about real life characters, many of whom he has met on his travels.

The album gets off to an assured start with a cracking song of Fabian's called "The Landlord's Daughter", which is a chilling murder-ballad about an over-protective father who kills his daughter's lover and then [accidentally] kills her. The song cleverly follows the form of a traditional ballad, which clearly shows Fabian's grasp of the genre. He is, however, equally adept at the blues, as the following track, Skip James's "Hard Time Killing Floor" amply demonstrates.

"Little Boy Johnny" is the poignant story of a young man who joins the army and is sent off to a foreign land where, following orders, he kills a child but he cannot live with the guilt. Guy Fletcher's fiddle adds a mournful tone.

"Like Father Like Son" is a carefully observed song about a young man becoming aware that he is turning into his father which, at first, he considers is uncool but then he realises that he would be proud if he turns out just like his dad.

"Doctor Price" is one of two traditional songs on the album. It is not one that I was previously familiar with but it is the hugely entertaining tale of an eccentric doctor who was way ahead of his time, and deeply unpopular, for espousing vegetarianism, nudism, promiscuity and cremation! The unruly chorus is " I don't care a b*gger what anybody thinks of me", which caused some amusement when Fabian sang it live, especially as it was in a church !

The other traditional song is "Banks of the Dee", resonates to this day as it recounts the fate of a miner who can't get employment for his hair has turned grey.

Fabian's knack of writing songs about real life characters is exemplified by "Charlie" and "Mad Eric". The former tells of a young man who is badly treated by his employer and who eventually realises his dream of going to sea. The latter is the sad tale of a man who is left alone, penniless and homeless, a "crazy old man" for whom life "just gets worse and worse". The song receives added poignancy by virtue of Will Pounds doleful harmonica.

In summary, this is an extremely fine album by a songwriter of great sensitivity and humanity. Considering that this is Fabian's debut album, his lyrics show considerable maturity. Equally impressive is his folk-blues guitar playing which stands favourable comparison with the acknowledged masters of the genre.

When I saw Fabian play live, I was convinced that he is a major new talent, a view that is entirely reinforced by this superb debut album. Highly recommended.

Peter Cowley