Kris Drever : 'Mark The Hard Earth'
Released: 8th March 2010
Label: Navigator Records
Continuing the youth-led resurgence of the folk genre, Mark The Hard Earth sees Kris Drever once again on top form. What makes folk music different from other musical genres is that you will often find artists involved in more than one project. Not satisfied with being part of Lau, announced this week as folk group of the year at the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for 2010, Kris Drever clearly has more to offer, this being his second solo album.
Drever’s distinctive Scots voice lends the album a depth of sound which belies his comparatively young 32 years. Surprisingly the album opens on a slightly downbeat note; Ewen Vernal’s deep bass plucks the first few notes of the title track before Drever launches into a tale of weather and seasons, lamenting: ‘I make my choices, so I’ll shoulder the blame’.
Thankfully bozouki and banjo ensure that 'This Old Song' takes a completely different and more upbeat path. This is complemented by the understated drumming (take note Show of Hands) which allows Drever’s voice to remain the focal point.
The folk world is built on collaborations; time and again you will find artists who are ‘luminaries’ in their own right turning up as session musicians or backing singers on another artist’s album. This album is evidence of that with Tim O’Brien, Phil Cunningham, Karine Polwart, Heidi Talbot and John McCusker all appearing in different guises. The beauty being that the album remains distinctly Kris Drever’s.
The production team (another nod to the talented Mr McCusker) introduce themes of jazz with 'Sweet Honey In The Rock' - a title that conjures up images of deepest Alabama even before the staccato music kicks in. However, like almost everything else on this album Drever makes it work. Strangely, for someone who would list jazz as one of my least favourite musical genres, this is my favourite track!
As I’m unable to speak Gaelic, the meaning of Track 7, 'O’ A’ The Airts', passed me by other than to note the delicate harmonium playing of Donald Shaw.
'The Call And The Answer' is yet another take on that staple folk song topic – love. A more cheery choice than the other usual topic – death! The beauty of folk music is hearing artists put their own spin on traditional tracks; so it is here with Drever’s lilting Scots vocals giving new life to a song originally written by Phil Coclough. ‘You are the call, I am the answer. You are the night and I am the day.’
For all her support it’s not until the penultimate track 'The Banks of The Nile' that Heidi Talbot’s vocals come into their own, a perfect partner for this duet; another story of lost love caused by war. Allowing another vocalist to take centre stage and enabling him to concentrate on playing, this track gives a glimpse into Drever’s skill as a musician and shows why he has been so successful as a group artist as well as when flying solo.
All in all this is a really well constructed album. If he carries on in this vain then Kris Drever may well be casting his eyes upon one of those solo folk awards before very long; keep your eyes and ears peeled in February 2011.
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