Nigel Parry is an award winning singer/songwriter who has performed in several countries, on radio, and major folk festivals. He recently released Tales of Common Folk, Salt & Sweet Kisses.
This is very much a folk album with a lot of roots in the 70’s. Artists like Donovan came to mind on this song for a number of reasons. The acoustic and organic instrumentation but also the themes. There’s a lot of lyrics about kings, roads and in general I was getting imagery you would associate with the fantasy genre. Although Parry doesn't mention orcs, wizards or magic. The songs dance around earthly topics but the fantasy properties felt to me like they were in the stew. “Three Danish Galleys” revolves around harp, soft atmospheric elements and some percussion. The song moves slowly and at an almost meditative pace. I loved that and there was a lot of space for the vocals to breathe. In fact you can literally hear breaths on this song. “Flowers in Autumn” was one of my favorites on the album. The song holds on to you with warmth and sonically gives you a hug. The feeling of Autumn does come through and feels peaceful. The orchestral elements are quite beautiful as well. “King of Rome” felt like a play. There’s these masonic-like vocal passages, some are choral style while some of it is a single voice. It’s a unique song and I would say it seemed like the most experimental. “Rosemary's Rosy Doorway” is another beautiful one. The guitar picking is delicate and vocals provide a sense of solace. There’s this feeling as if you are arriving home on this song which is implied through the lyrics but also through the music. “Nine Pairs of Eyes” is also warm but is perhaps the most joyful sounding yet in my opinion. There’s what sounds like mandolin which sounds great juxtaposed against the other elements. The subtle orchestral swells add another dimension to the music as well. “The Notch” is another slow burn but again quite beautiful and did put me in a comforting and soothing headspace. “One Word War” is so cool. There’s some solo harmonica, vocal harmonies and not too much more. Similar to the other songs there’s a sense of stillness. In fact the near constant “Om” sound is something you often hear in meditation practice. There’s more movement on “The Day The Bank Closed Its Doors” which contains some full sounding vocal harmonies. The last song entitled “No More” is a wonderful send off which showcases Parry and Helen Dorothy trading lines. I would say fans of folk will love this. The album felt extremely pure to me. It’s also mixed just about perfectly which helps the emotion come through. Embrace and Rejoice. Recommended.
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May 2024
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