Broken Sky Reviews
The Sunday Herald
CD of the week
****
By Alan Morrison
BILLY BRAGG recently said that he didn't mind being labelled a political songwriter, "what I object to is being dismissed as a political songwriter". Politics are also a major element of David Ferrard's debut album, but again it would be wrong to pigeonhole this committed anti-war campaigner entirely by his protest output. The 29-year-old half-Scottish, half-American musician (a one-man transatlantic session) has an uncanny ability to fuse meaningful words with gorgeous melodies, winning the Burnsong 2007 competition for the timelessly catchy One Hell Of A Ride.
Given the content of certain songs here, it's no accident that the album first appeared (for download or CD order from www.davidferrard.com) the same week as the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Ferrard, however, wasn't in his home town when his album was released; he was researching in the Woody Guthrie archives in New York City. How appropriate, given the kindred spirit that has passed from Guthrie, through decades of the protest movement, down into almost every track on Broken Sky.
Set in the midst of the album's crystal-clear production, Ferrard's voice is closer to Joan Baez than Bob Dylan, and certainly not in the bar-room troubadour style of, say, Dick Gaughan. His vocal delivery is sincere but never over-earnest, while his music draws from both sides of his mixed roots, placing American country fiddles alongside gentle acoustic guitar.
The album's standout track, Hills Of Virginia, gets into the head of a soldier in Iraq. "A buddy of mine/Stepped on a mine/His body just disappeared/He never returned/ To the hills of Virginia/All they buried were tears," Ferrard sings as the song's melodic shifts between major and minor become a thing of beauty. The protest tradition has many iconic songs, and who's to say that one day Ferrard's Hills Of Virginia won't be mentioned in the same breath as Eric Bogle's And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.
Rogue Folk Review (Canada)
By Steve Edge.
David Ferrard - songwriter from Edinburgh who has just released his debut CD, Broken Sky, which includes collaborations with Karine Polwart. His delivery is tasteful and understated, accompanying himself on guitar. His tenor vibrato is easy on the ear, and leads us into the heart of his songwriting: incisive, topical, and appealing. David Ferrard is definitely one to watch.
BBC Radio Scotland: Iain Anderson Show
Album Of The Week
'David provides a very healthy synthesis - a vocal purity of the quality of a Scottish burn combined with the style and delivery of the tried and tested American product.'
Leith FM
by Graeme Scott
David Ferrard may well be a new name to you but that will not last long. He is a very accomplished writer with a clutch of songs ranging from lovely traditional ballads, biting anti-war and globalisation anthems on through to heartbreaking paeans and musings of loves and friendships lost. It is often hard to think back the next day to which songs impressed you the most but not today. Dimitri's Pocket Radio is as fine a song about asylum seekers being overlooked as just simply human beings as you will ever hear. There can be few that were not reflecting on the futility of war to the strains of Hills Of Virginia. Often couples fail to allow themselves time to concentrate on themselves and Take Me Out Waltzing Tonight speaks volumes on those forgotten needs. The highlight of David's own songs was the powerful, sad and haunting Never Let Go. Written with sensitive understanding it tells the story of a man who has lost so much to AIDS. I could go on but will simply end by saying seek out this artist and album.
Socialist Worker
by Pat Stark
The first thing that strikes you when listening to David Ferrard is the beauty of his voice—clear and strong, tough and sweet all at the same time. It is slightly difficult to categorised his music, a sort of mixture of country and folk with a cutting edge. He struck me as a cross between James Taylor and Nanci Griffiths with a little bit of Sufjan Stevens throw in for edge. The album is an interesting mixture of touching love songs, wistful nostalgia, and comments on our times—all tracks bar one written by Ferrard.
With songs like Broken Sky (the title track), Rain and This Heart, Ferrard displays his talent as a writer/singer of love songs. He has a voice that naturally lends itself to these tender songs. The same voice though catches the mood of some of the issues of our day. Dimitri’s Pocket Radio is a wonderful tale of the triumph of love over adversity, bureaucracy and racism. Similarly Hills of Virginia captures the pointlessness and futility of “protecting our nation” in the Iraq war, and The Hour of Plenty picks away at the horrors of global capitalism. The album closes with Never Let Go, a song of the tragedy of the AIDS-torn 1980s.
However there is also a fun feeling to the album. One Hell of A Ride has the feeling of a country romp and Take Me Out Waltzing Tonight a celebration of enduring love. A very interesting mixture and a very good listen.
The Scotsman
by Norman Chalmers
Back in the 1960s this tousled-haired lad with the acoustic guitar would have been labelled a 'protest' singer, and though much of this first album by the Edinburgh-based Scots/American songwriter does rail at the current war(s) and the iniquities of power, he also gives us songs about affairs of the heart, personal and universal. So it's peace and love with a contemporary feel – and a strong band line-up that includes the likes of Karine Polwart. And there are lighthearted songs such as 'Take Me Out Waltzing Tonight', and a happy ending to the picaresque 'Dmitri's Pocket Radio'.
The Friend
by Jez Smith
Each time I listen to Broken Sky, David Ferrard’s debut album, I come away oved by emotions, sometimes inspired to fight for justice, at other times I feel deeply tranquil.
David is subtle, with his anti-war song Hills of Virginia hitting home more accurately than any Brittush-issue weapon ever could: ‘My weapons were no longer toys’. In Dmitri’s Pocket Radio, a true story of a refugee brought a tear to my eye the first few times that I heard it. Later, in The Hour Of Plenty, David and his backing singer’s voices haunt me as he subtly exposes global inequalities.
David’s voice, combined with well-chosen lyrics, means that he will find his own niche in the world of folk music. His well crafted songs and beautiful melodies are entwined to produce a timeless compilation that will be remembered for years to come.’
fRoots
Ferrard’s political songs are very strong, touching on Chechen and Iraqi wars and injustice, but the majority of tracks here are standard singer-songwriter love songs. The arrangements are smooth and Ferrard’s tremulous voice is attractive, which makes for a neatly rounded set of tracks – but it’s the three or four ‘committed’ ones that really stick in the mind.
Reviews & quotes about David's music:
PRESS
'Bits of Woody Guthrie wedged in between Tom Paxton and Bob Dylan'
Edinburgh Evening News
'the fresh-faced saviour of the Scottish protest tradition'
Jim Gilchrist, The Scotsman
'Ferrard has a crisp, tuning-fork voice which might see him credibly compared to James Taylor, strong but soothing all at once.'
David Pollock, The Scotsman
'David's ability to write political and pop songs with equal focus makes him stand out a mile from most of us mortals who have our niche.
Out of the Bedroom
'sweet, crystal vocals...David could be Scotland's answer to Rufus Wainwright....'
Glasgow Evening Times
'a singer-songwriter attuned to the times'
Celtic Music Radio
'I heard David's song "One Hell of a Ride" on his Website and was simply blown away. Within five minutes I had contacted him and invited him onto my show. This young singer/songwriter has the potential to be a major player on the Folk Scene. In years to come I'm looking forward to being able to brag: "I gave David Ferrard his first live radio gig you know!" I predict that he will be known world-wide within a few years, and wish him every success in the glittering career that undoubtedly lies ahead.'
Karin Ingram
Radio Borders
'The Royal Oak is small, hot and stuffy, but perfectly provides the intimate, cosy atmosphere that makes listening to the ‘Trio’ a real treat. Lodged between the bar and the first row of listeners, David Ferrard (lead vocalist, guitar and songwriter), Suzanne Adam (fiddle, vocalist and blue glockenspiel) and Sandy Butler (guitar and vocalist) play protest songs, country and folk songs, sing an a capella Guthrie song. Most of the songs have a political theme: the war in Iraq, deportation, etc, but the show never becomes too heavy-handed because small inter-trio quips and honky-tonk melodies keep the tone light. They finish with a song about peace, and that is the feeling you get from this little gig: a warm, relaxed moment of peace with lovely music to soothe your soul.'
Kitty van Oosten
Three Weeks (2006)
'...let this charismatic young folk singer put you straight through the power of traditional song...delivered with warmth and engaging sincerity...His gentle style and perfect diction told these musical stories of ordinary people to extraordinary effect.'
Louise Rodgers
Three Weeks (2007)
PEERS
'Moving, powerful and compelling'
Tony Benn
'David Ferrard has the voice and the heart of an angel. He works for a better world in his life and in his songs, and his music is as beautiful as he is.'
Mary Gauthier
'It is always a delight to meet someone who uses their talents to address important issues of the world we live in. David Ferrard is one such singer/songwriter. His writing reflects his concerns about the world around him. Such songs have a long history and have always been a part of the tradition of people’s music. David is one of the younger generation who continues this tradition. I have enjoyed sharing a stage with him on more than one occasion and I have added a couple of his songs to my repertoire : Visions of our Youth and the delightful Take me out Waltzing Tonight.'
Roy Bailey, 'the greatest socialist folk singer of his generation' (Tony Benn), www.roybailey.net
'Occasionally I run into a little-known songwriter in some corner of the world, and when I hear their stuff I know immediately that sometime in the next couple years they're going to be one of those musicians people will be asking me about excitedly everywhere I go, hoping to be turning me on to a new artist I hadn't heard of before. "Ever hear this guy David Ferrard? You gotta check him out, man..." '
David Rovics, singer-songwriter, www.davidrovics.com
FESTIVAL BOOKERS
‘Top-class songs from a great new talent. David Ferrard stands out from the crowd. With his clear voice and original songs he really impressed my audiences. I’ve booked him twice and highly rate him.’
Peter Chegwyn (Gosport & Fareham, and Wickham Festival Director)
‘David Ferrard came to Towersey as a relative unknown on the English festival circuit and quickly gained a host of admirers for his thoughtful, considered songs delivered with an easy charm and a captivating voice.’
Alan Bearman (Towersey Village Festival Director & Agent)
'David Ferrard was like a breath of fresh air at Beverley Festival this year. A young artist with so much talent and confidence, he seemed as if he had been travelling the circuit for years. A natural performer and a lovely guy - the audiences immediately warmed to him.'
Chris Wade (Beverley Folk Festival Director)
