 | | Reviews | | |  DAVID HUGHES
I Can Explain
The Folk Corporation TFCCCD 2010
Welcome to the world of David Hughes where the ability to rhyme "middle-aged man" with "Steeleye bloody Span" reveals a slightly oblique life-view with often darkly humorous songs colouring their own universe. An acoustic guitarist/songwriter, he has released four other albums and one compilation besides being a published author of three books. This CD combines all the best qualities of his earlier recordings - the effective balance of complex and simple, fragility and resilience, with an urgency that feels fresh as the milk on your doorstep.
Small wonder then, that Ned Sherrin has taken him to heart with regular slots on Radio Four's Loose Ends - David's idiosyncratic musical agenda would be enough to commend him alone, but his are bouncy, pithy songs with a sense of purpose and the changes are rung from track to track. He can cover mid-life crises, modern business-speak and rueful hindsight equally well, yet for all his hard-bitten cynicism, Hughes wants to be loved (see the title track - "I'll see you again and we'll be the same, away from the storm clouds, the wind and the rain.")
His off-the-wall tales about enigmatic characters tipped askew by the world and striving to find some air pockets of hope express a universal humanity (Who Could Ask For Anything More?), whilst the edgy languor of Send A Message is a potent should I/shouldn't I? moment of romantic indecision.
Embellishing the basic guitar/vox with some sonic alchemy are, amongst others, such stellar talents as Gerry Conway, Jacqui McShee and Bert Jansch, and David Hughes is steadily making his mark. Here he's come up with a fully-rounded work which will have appeal for all those who like their songs to be about something.
Clive Pownceby - November 2004
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 Agree with Clive P, "I Can Explain' is an absolute corker of an album. Hughes is a true wordsmith - not in a "clever-clever' way but in the manner of someone who truly cherishes language. Moreover, he is a hell of an acoustic guitarist and the cast of backing musos take things to another level. My record of the year so far.
Carey Hancock, Ammanford
I have all of David's recordings, and feel he is the most refreshing UK singer songwriter I have heard since Randy Newman! Check him out!
Liam Shwilick, USA | | | | | | |  |
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Folk & Acoustic
