David Swann
Album: Time And Tide
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.davidswann.co.uk

David Swann is a talented singer and songwriter whose songs conjure up images of life on the East Yorkshire coast at the turn of the century.

This is very much a stripped back approach with most songs only featuring solo instruments and voice.

This is a brave attempt to build a connection with the listener, no fussy instrumentation or production to be found here.

The title Time and Tide gives a strong clue what's on this album. Songs of brave fishermen who lost their lives on the North Sea, the women waiting on the shore, the tales of courage on the sea. It's all here.

Particularly fine is The Two Brothers, a tale of a fishing disaster off Flamborough in 1909, complete with the names of those who lost their lives.

David turns to the concertina for a simple tale of the changing seasons in Rosedale.

A welcome touch is the explanation of the songs in the album notes, allowing the listener to complete the picture.

The album art is also worthy of note - a smashing painting showing "Low Tide at Runswick Bay" by Kezy Feaster.

Onto the ukulele for a sweet Thirties-inspired love song, No More Stormy Weather. The tenor guitar is used for The Old Beggar's Track, a tale of tramping across the North York Moors from pub to pub playing tunes.

The final track, You And Whose Army, sits a little incongruous with the rest of the album with its rollicking rhythm and "joining-in" chorus and football whistle.

But if you enjoy good songs performed in a simple style then this is well worth a listen.

John Knighton