James Findlay
Album: Another Day, Another Story
Label: Fellside
Tracks: 15
Website: http://www.jamesfindlay.co.uk

BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Musician of the Year 2010, James Findlay, is an excellent singer, guitarist and fiddler. His new album is entitled, "Another Day, Another Story".

The album has a vast collection of songs and it is well worth reading the sleeve notes. In this project, Findlay has stuck with his roots, meaning that all of the material that has been selected is traditional and therefore no originals are included, (a large portion of the material recorded has been sourced of his native West Country). It also means that the whole album has a very traditional sound, being very minimal with factors such as accompaniment and arrangement. In regard to arrangement, there is nothing too overdone. It is all very simplistic and based around the raw material that are the lyrics and melody, meaning that there is not much in the way of introductions or instrumental breaks. In regard to accompaniment it is, again, very sparse, yet what there is is very effective. There is variation in how the songs on this album are accompanied. Ranging from completely solo voice, to voice, guitar and backing vocals. One of the highlights of the album is when young piano accordionist, Alex Cumming, makes an appearance on track 11. The combination of Fiddle and Accordion is a classic in English music and in many other Traditions around the world. Findlay and Cumming pull it off seamlessly.

James Findlay's style of singing is second to none! He possesses and gloriously rich tone which is complimented by a slight husky texture to his voice. He also includes the right choice of ornaments and uses them at the perfect places, as to enhance the mood of the song and sometimes change its melodic flow, to create something really rather unique. While we are on the topic of uniqueness, Findlay's style of accompaniment on his guitar, sits alone in its minimalist approach to backing a song. He uses relatively simple chord progressions, but allows in the occasional counter melody, which adds rhythmic and textural interest, as well as giving the piece of music played a wonderful trance like quality. However, staying true to the tradition that he is part of, Finlay's fiddle playing is very authentic to the ears. When I say this, I mean that there are little, or no outside influences within his style of fiddle playing. A fitting comparison to make about his playing would be to Jon Boden, (of Bellowhead).

This album has a great charm to it and is very enjoyable, however, I feel that it may not be suitable for someone who is not used to the overall sound of traditional English folk song, but more appropriate for a listener who has a background in this style of music. This is not to say that it isn't a brilliant specimen of the traditional English folk song. Quite the opposite in fact, but the beautiful, simplistic nature of the album, would be more appreciated by someone who has had experience in listening to this music. On the other hand, playing this subgenre of music is clearly what this man loves doing, which is apparent in every track on this album.

Matthew Tighe