A more serious version of James Blunt?
It's unusual these days to find mainstream bands that do miserable and real life properly. True, there are a fair few such as Coldplay and James Blunt who seem to have hit it right on the nail but such down to Earth and unpretentious music is often hard to find. Occasionally though, there rises like gold dust from a river, an artist who really tells it like it is and produces really touching and beautiful music that is both accessible and easy to relate to, the kind of music that real people want. Newcomer David Ford is one of these rare but wonderful artists.
Gentle and subtle is the musical approach in each of his songs but the strength in the lyrical music is ever powerful. Unafraid to put the situation into the raw context, David Ford writes powerful and emotive music that can't fail but draw listeners in, there is at least one song on the album that everyone can relate to and the broad mixture of tastes and styles incorporated into the songs add such beauty and colour to them all. There is a real sense of delicate emotion and sensitivity in the music, the songs are sad but the sense of melancholia is not overpoweringly depressing either. The album is the perfect companion for those dark and cold winter rainy days where all you want to do is keep warm in a blanket, drinking a cup of something hot and comforting as you watch the rain. 'I Don't Care What You Call Me' starts off with a sombre guitar introduction that is soft and sombre, setting the scene for an emotive story, a story that outlines the gentle hate and bitterness and the pain of a couple recently broken up, too scared to admit they still care but accepting that things really have changed. The focus of all the songs is outlined here for the rest of the album and that is mostly on the lyrics. It is the beautiful, mournful and heartfelt lyrics that the rest of the music builds itself around. There is a sudden build up in the second chorus, as piano, drums and a second voice joins in to provide perfect harmonisation. An unexpected touch comes in form of a harmonica solo midway through the song, adding a laid back and relaxed distraction from those all too close to home lyrics that reach in and surround you like a comforting embrace, a friend at the very point of breaking. The final chorus seems brighter in key and as the lines 'I don't care what you call me, 'cos it won't hurt anymore' bring the song to a close; there is a real sense of closure in the brightness of the sound of the finishing chords.
'State Of The Nation' is a beautiful and political song with a rolling repetitive rhythm pattern. The rhythm and melody remain the same throughout the song but don't tire the listener, in fact they slowly continue to build with emotion and melodic interest as a different instrument cleverly blends itself into the music each time. It isn't badly done either, it's often hard to tell exactly what has joined in when and indeed on the first listen all you will hear is a gradual growth of musical dynamics slowly growing in power, harmonic structure and volume. The overall sound as the song progressed has all the delicate charm of the style of Idlewild, with the poetic but cryptic lyrics and the gentle minor chords. Introduction of light flutes and the picking of strings frame the carefree, flowing pace of the music, carefully guided by a purring bass as the guitar gently creeps in on 'We are lost, we are lost, we are lost'. 'State Of The Nation' criticises and outlines the real state of our capitalist and fascist society today and the slow descent into the depression of the people, the lyrics are cryptic but all too true and strong in their cynical message. The song itself is an irony, illustrating the oppressed bitterness of the tired and bitter public who just go on even when it seems all hope is lost because they know they just won't be listened to. It's a really beautiful and moral song with a real message, meant to open eyes to the state of our nation.
'Cheer Up (You miserable fuck)' is a beautiful sad song about closure in a once loving, now failing relationship and parting ways and you can tell this without even reading the lyrics. The guitars and strings seem to argue amongst themselves remorsefully, like a sense of pensiveness has overtaken the mood. But, here, like so many other tracks, it is the lyrics that really take the spotlight and tell the story. So beautiful is the way the moods conflict, unsure of whether they're happy to be apart or whether they are desperate to reconcile their love. David Ford really is a master of capturing conflicting moods and knows just how to get the maximum reaction from an audience, with lyrics filled with a real sense of down to earth real-life emotion that everyone can access and that's what makes the music so beautiful and so real.
Mixing the styles of James Blunt with the lyrical genius of Coldplay and Idlewild, David Ford brings us a tender and sensitive offering of real-life on a record. While it may not be the cheeriest of albums to listen to, it certainly has character and a lot to give and is the perfect record for those who need musical support during times of need. A beautiful and sensitive record.