DAVID LANCE CALLAHAN – Down To The Marshes – review

DAVID LANCE CALLAHAN – Down To The Marshes – review
Tiny Global Production

Well, I suppose you can say whatever you want on your own Bandcamp page. And if there one thing that’s not lacking over there it’s hyperbole.

“Down To The Marshes is David’s masterpiece, a stunning collection of marvellous songs. After the Romulan twins of English Primitive I and English Primitive II were birthed via Caesarean section from their vixen mother, David Lance Callahan releases a more worldly standalone album in Down To The Marshes.”

Masterpiece. Stunning. Marvellous. I’ve often used these words when talking about myself but, strange to relate, this is not a wildly held belief. So, I’ll be the judge, fella me lad.

Basically, it’s a folk album. Modern folk with some psych twists. And a hint of post punk and art rock. Which is how I like my folk. Less hey nonny no and more plague victims need not apply. Which is handy as it seems to be an album all about that there London. Where I spent many years of coke fuelled, high flying shenanigans in the nineties. I often think back fondly of those times while thanking whatever Gods you pray to that I got out in time.

Lots of poetry here as well as many a literary allusion so fans of Hilary Mantel and W.H. Auden may want to lend an ear. There’s also a string quartet, a horn section, some fella that used to play with PJ Harvey (hurrah!) and some fella that used to play with The Fall (boo!). Although, to be fair, I have to double check sometimes that I didn’t used to be in The Fall.

The music is rather splendid though. I wasn’t overly taken with the opener but then the title track arrived and I started to perk up a bit. There are some lovely non Western melodies at play here and the string arrangement is just delightful. Fans of politics will enjoy his update of ‘Refugee Blues’, the W.H. Auden poem about Jews fleeing the Nazis whilst I am still drooling over the saxophone enhanced ‘Father Thames and Mother London’, which doesn’t paint a pretty picture of London Town.

Sadly, ‘Robin Reliant’ isn’t about the motor vehicle of yore but rather that pesky wee shite that I’m in perpetual combat with. It’s my kitchen, dammit. Keep the hell out! But for those of you delight in the marauding wee bandit, then it paints a very pretty picture. This is an excellent release and when it peaks then the “Masterpiece. Stunning. Marvellous.” isn’t far off the mark.

https://davidcallahan.bandcamp.com/music