REVIEWS
 

"LADDERS OF DAYLIGHT"

This is an album of quality and full of delight - to make a pun from the title - and the more I've listened to its fifty one minutes of music, the more I've liked it and the more I've discovered in it. Initially appealing is the remarkable front cover illustration by John Holder, whose work has been a feature of the programmes and posters of the Cambridge Folk Festival. Then there is Patty's voice: full of variety, wistful, bluesy, sometimes breathily sensuous as in I Try To Fall In Love, and always confident and clear, expressive but relaxed.

All of the sixteen tracks are written by Alan Franks, a feature-writer for The Times by day and no mean poet and songsmith on the side. The lyrics, all reproduced on the cover insert, are certainly poetry, in the sense that the sounds and cadences of the words are themselves music to the ear, made more poignant and meaningful still by the tasteful and imaginative arrangements and harmonies, using two voices and a variety of instruments including guitar, double bass, whistle, accordion and fiddle.

"We ride the rhythm of the train of the heart" from "The End Of The Line", is one line which might sum up the general tenor of the album, with most of the songs dealing with love, life and the affairs of the heart, often in a rather melancholy vein.

Fairport Convention's newest member Chris Leslie contributes some inspired touches on fiddle on five of the tracks, and chose Alan's "Wishfulness Waltz" (from Patty and Alan's début album "Will" as one of his vocal contributions to Fairport's 1997 album "Who Knows Where The Time Goes", which further confirms the regard with which the songs are held. So too does the fact that lyricist Sir Tim Rice has their first CD in his car - "The ultimate accolade for anything in my collection" he says.

The tunes are also good but they serve to compliment the words and on what is essentially an album of songs, there are no unnecessary pyrotechnics. For example, the in-fills provided by Chris Leslie's fiddle, such as in the opening Jackie Lee, and the haunting I Once Loved A Girl (sung by Alan ) are subtle but very effective, and the effect he creates in the title track is stunning. In short, this is a very enjoyable CD.

"ARMS OF THE ENEMY"

(nothing to do with military conflict!) is the third CD from Patty Vetta and Alan Franks. It does seem that there are lots of good acts out there that don't get the lucky break into national recognition, and I am surprised that this couple are not more widely known, for this album has everything!

Superb lyrics (supplied on the sleeve notes with the occasional discrepancy) carried on tunes which hold one's interest without being over-fussy or convoluted. There's quite a mixture of , too, from C & W, jazzy, bluesy, ragtime numbers, through mock musical hall, to the beautiful but short unaccompanied song, "Late September".

Patty's clear warm voice leads on most tracks, and is equally adaptable to blues or ballad. Alan, who composed all the material, except the only instrumental, "End Of The Day" (The hymn also familiar to folkies as "The Lakes Of Colephin") leads on some memorable tracks - the tongue-in-cheek "This Love Affair Of Ours" is reminiscent of some early Miles Wootton compositions, whilst "Things Get Lonely Now" is a moving, poignant song about the reflections of an ageing ex-pat facing the end of his life. Other reflections of what has been and what might have been and personal relationships feature prominently in the subject matter, though there is much dry humour, inspired imagery and a touch of double-entendre.

I could easily go into detailed appreciation of many of the songs, but I'll mention just one more, "Four Beaks In A Bar", a delightful 2 verse ditty inspired, I suppose, by sparrows sitting on telephone wires like musical notes on a stave.

Patty and Alan are supported on the CD by a whole range of musicians and instruments - guitars, accordion, bass, fiddles, saxophone & drums and more. Obviously in a folk club setting, there would only be Alan's guitar, but the quality of the material and the artists would still prevail. My "acid tests" for a CD of contemporary material, are whether I would go and see them perform live and whether I would be tempted to perform any of their material myself.

I can answer both affirmatively!

Patty Vetta & Alan Franks. I am truly amazed that, in this, their fourth album, Alan continues to maintain such a consistently high standard of songwriting, with well-crafted lyrics and attractive tunes. Many 'folk' singersongsmiths struggle to produce even a few pieces that aren't instantly forgettable. It surprises me, too, that this duo are still relatively unknown on the national scene. Their songs and presentation tread the border between folk music, country & western, and even jazz. Alan plays a folky style guitar, but on various tracks there is an impressive line-up of backing instruments including bass & lead guitar, sax, clarinet, accordion, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, & keyboards, with Reg Meuross, Al Stewart, & Steve Reynolds amongst the accompanying musicians.

Patty has a fantastic voice, equally at home with the bluesy jazzy style of Springtime, the gentle love songs like When I Return to You, and the poignant encounter of a released prisoner with a former pal told in As I Walked Out. Patty told me this album is rather different from previous ones, and in some respects this is true. There is certainly more variety in the instrumental accompaniment and Alan takes the lead on more of the songs. But what is undoubtedly in keeping with their earlier CDs is the sheer quality of the songs, with, in my opinion, not a duff one amongst them There's always something a little unexpected, whether in the topic, the lyrics, or the arrangement. The title song, Bird in Flames tells the sad tale of Daniel Leroche, a French resistance fighter, The Ship of Our Affair uses choral harmony and accordion, and I'll leave Worm Tango to your imagination!

The music of Patty Vetta & Alan Franks might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if it can strike a chord with an old traditional folk singing friend who lives not so far from me, then there's hope for people of any musical interest !