Call Upon The Author

Songwriter David Rotheray brings us his bird themed LP ‘The Life of Birds’ – a series of collaborations with some well known names from the world of folk, including Eliza Carthy and Kathryn Williams. A conceptual piece, this album features really nice artwork, photos of the collaborators, lyrics, and the genius idea of a little description of how each song came to be. So, it looks lovely – what does it sound like?
Well, it’s definitely folky in tone- acoustic and soft, and the assortment of singers all have that kind of country cast to them. It’s well put together, works really well as a showcase for all the lovely voices, and shows off a lot of musical talent – but it does go on a bit. In fact, that’s my main criticism of this album – the songs are individually lovely, but there are fourteen tracks here and I found that when I’d reached the halfway point or thereabouts I’d heard enough for the time being, and fancy something different.
To highlight some of that individual loveliness, album opener The Sparrow and The Thrush and The Nightingale is a cheerful bit of pretty silliness about a rock group formed by birds; jaunty and richly sung by Jim Causley. Living Before The War combines the lilting vocals of Bella Hardy, some twinkly backing and melancholic guitar to make up a lonely ballad. I love The Road to The South (probably due to being able to relate to missing the North!) – sad and sweet, and Eliza Carthy sings it so well. Sweet Forgetfulness is actually about Alzheimer’s disease – a really powerful song that somehow manages to be a celebration with it’s great plunky piano and whirly organ, despite the sombre subject. The Digital Cuckoo features lovely strings and frames Bella Hardy’s pure, clear voice in beautiful piano and percussion. Gorgeous. Final mention goes to Cover Your Garden Over – a musing on our celebrity obsessed society, sung with a fair bit of vitriol by Eliza Carthy. All of these tracks are not only really pretty to listen to, but there is real intelligence and thought behind the lyrics – this is thinking mans folk, this is.
However, on the other side of the coin – some of the tracks feel a bit maudlin and dreary. Draughty Old Fortress is no thriller, and Almost Beautiful is just too morose. The tracks I haven’t mentioned by name are the more lacklustre offerings, and in those points there is a definite sag. This is where the length of the album comes into play- the top notch folksy greatness of some of the tracks gets forgotten when you’re wading through these greyer sections.
But maybe I’m being unfair – I’m not the greatest lover of folk/country myself, but if you are a fan of this genre, I can imagine this being a veritable buffet of gorgeousness. Also, I will confess that each time I’ve heard it I’ve liked it more: but it has taken discipline, and the knowledge of having to review it that has made me get through to the very end each time.