As I’ve noted before, David Francey, then in his mid-40s and
a carpenter by trade, emerged in the late-1990s as one of Canada’s most
significant and accomplished singer-songwriters. His songs are distinguished by
their beautifully-crafted, poetic lyrics and memorable, traditional-sounding
melodies. On So Say We All, as on the nine previous albums he’s released since
1999, David surrounds himself with a small group of creative acoustic musicians
who help bring out the best in his songs without ever getting in the way.
David notes in the CD booklet that he recorded this album
following what had been “a very difficult year,” that recording it “was a
pathway up and out from under.”
Indeed, several of the songs reflect themes of depression
and hopelessness. “Harm,” which sounds like an Appalachian folksong thanks to
Chris Coole’s banjo arrangement, captures the feelings of someone at the
deepest depths of depression longing to climb out again. “Cheap Motel,” reflects the loneliness that is part of many road musicians' day-to-day life, while “Ordinary
Man” presents a series of scenes – the military, a dead end job, prison – in which
an ordinary man is trapped, and “Satellite,” shows the emptiness of staring
at the ground on a dark night while the wonders of the heavens are there to
behold by just looking up.
Despite these, and several others, the album is not all
dark. There is the hopefulness of finding love in “Weather Vane” and the
renewal of the human spirit reflected in “Blue Skies,” a song inspired by the
Blue Skies Folk festival.
Even when David is singing about darkness, there is much to
learn and understand about the human spirit – and that is a mark of great
songwriting.
--Mike Regenstreif
Hi Mike - I came upon your blog by way of Tom Russell who I saw in New Jersey last weekend. Tom and several other names I saw on your blog struck a chord with me and I now see you on a regular basis on my Facemail page. Thanks for reviewing David Francey, he's someone I never heard before but liked from the first line. There's so much out there, and so lt ittle time (as the saying goes - ha) I've been wri ting songs and singing at open mics here in New York for a few years now. Would youmbe willing to listen to one or two of them and give me your opinion? Thanks for your time, Mike, I won't send anything unless I hear from you -
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