Archie Fisher - A Silent Song '2015

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. Waltz Into Winter
02. Bonnie Annie Laurie
03. Half the World Away
04. Lass from the Low Country
05. Lord of the May
06. Mary Ann
07. No Way to Treat a Friend
08. A River Like You
09. Song for a Friend
10. The Gifts
11. You Took the Day
12. The Parting Glass


Archie Fisher has enjoyed an unquestioned status as a mainstay of the Scottish
folk revival since its early days, but he’s released surprisingly few
records in the space of four decades – barely a dozen in total, and
that’s including joint ventures with Garnet Rogers or Barbara Dickson. A
Silent Song is only his seventh solo album, indeed, and it comes after a
seven-year gap since 2008’s Windward Away.

There’s something very special about any Archie Fisher album, and even
more so when each successive disc is such a long time in coming. And
there’s also something so maddeningly simple, yet deceptively so, about
his performance – an enviably warm and laid-back singing style
that’s not only been honed over years of performing but also stemming
from a consummate ease with presentation (witness his long stint as BBC Radio
Scotland’s Travelling Folk show presenter). The sheer seemingly
effortless nature of Archie’s vocal work is brilliantly matched by his
timeless, fluid – and again seemingly effortless – guitar
accompaniment. This comprises virtually all of the instrumental support on this
lovely (if short) disc, with only occasional extra contributions, these being
from Luna Skye (cello on two tracks), Phillip Mazure (guitar on one track) and
Joel Sayles and Isaac Alderson (bass and flute respectively, on the finale
Parting Glass) – and all subtly and tastefully managed in keeping with
Archie’s own elegant performances.

As far as sources are concerned, the disc’s 12 tracks are divided
equably: four are Archie’s own compositions, these dealing skilfully,
economically and memorably in straightforward, uncomplicated emotions and
include the poignantly valedictory You Took The Day and live favourites Song For
A Friend and Waltz Into Winter. There’s also Archie’s unique
treatments of songs by other writers: Richard Berman’s inspirational The
Gifts, Kirsty McGee’s impeccably observed No Way To Treat A Friend and
Ian Davison’s tender A River Like You. The latter sports a delightful
backing vocal from Linda Richards, as does Archie’s account of the
traditional Lass From The Low Country (a distinctively different treatment from
the earlier, quite eerie and rather idiosyncratically-sung John Jacob Niles
adaptation which seems almost to originate in another world entirely). The menu
is completed by Bonnie Annie Laurie and the traditional Mary Ann and Lord Of The
May, the last-named having something of an Appalachian ballad feel in
Archie’s setting. Whatever the provenance, though, Archie handles the
material with trademark sensitivity, meeting the demands of the text with a
gentle expressiveness that through its very understatement is even more telling.

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