Edinburgh Evening News, Tuesday July 22, 2003 - Cooking up a tasty treat for audience |
WHATEVER the genre of music may be, there are at least three ingredients needed for a good song – a catchy tune, a fitting accompaniment and a well written lyric.
There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but most of the songs that become classics follow a variation on this basic recipe. Where the cooking analogy falls apart is that, normally, too many cooks gent in each other’s way – clearly not the case with The Six Songwriters collective, two of which presented last night’s performance. One of the six, Martin Boland opened the evening with his own song, Fear of Falling, and Beneath The Flood co written with Tom Fairnie. The atmosphere was laid back as he stepped up and began to sing in a rich Scottish voice reminiscent of Michael Marra, and the songs were more than worth of that great writer.
Dangerously, Nick Allmark chose to set a high benchmark by beginning his first set with a Bob Dylan song, One Too Many Mornings. From this it was clear he could definitely play the guitar and his voice, while not striking could nevertheless carry a tune. But could he write one?
Allmark tells stories through song, many about his native Shropshire, and these are fascinating snapshots – often set in historical times - which is exactly what folk music is all about.
The only fly in the soup was that Allmark forgot about the secret ingredient in songwriting – the arrangement.
Obviously a skilful player, he opted to play these songs, set in the days when the longbow was first introduced as though they were modern pop songs.
Still, the final song of the set, William Taylor, held promise for the next.
In the meantime, the second of The Six Songwriters, Tom Fairnie, played an impromptu set by way of a teaser for later show in this ongoing series of gigs.
If he had said the songs were by someone famous, no-one would have doubted him, but they weren’t.
Together with poet Bob Shields, Tom Fairnie writes his own excellent material and performed it with the energy and passion of a seasoned player.
On his return, Allmark more than fulfilled his earlier promise as the arrangements began to match the well-crafted story.
The instantly memorable Anglesea Whaler could easily become a well-covered folk classic.
Every night till September 21, the Six Songwriters showcase a different singer-songwriter in association with the Wee Folk Club. Do yourself a favour and take the chance to hear some of tomorrow’s best songs spring to life.
Martin Lennon