CHARGE CD Background

CHARGE is David Ford’s fourth solo studio album.  Since leaving Easyworld in 2004, he’s remained defiantly under the mainstream radar, causing a stir with his debut single ‘State Of The Union’ and its homemade video of a solo performance of the song in his home basement and having his potential breakthrough second album SONGS FOR THE ROAD lost commercially as label Independiente struggled to pay the bills.

Accepting his lot, he went back to self-funding, self-promoting for this third album LET THE HARD TIMES ROLE and a series of EPs over the past couple of years, continuing to play live and astound his dedicated fan base. The album reflects those struggles he’s faced as an artist, documenting a disastrous solo tour of the southern US on ‘Pour A Little Poison’, describing himself as a “whiny little English boy singing the blues” and “staring at the walls of the Motel 6” over a mouth organ led stomp that you can’t help but tap your feet too. There’s also ‘Philadelphia Boy’ about the way a crowd in Philadelphia took him to their hearts when he almost broke down on stage during another tour and his subsequent love for the city.

Most potent is however album closer ‘Every Time’, six minutes of musing over missed opportunities, getting shafted by the business and waking up to the realization he’s making music that he loves and that’s what’s important to him.  It’s Ford’s career summed up in one massive explosion of self-exploration.  One criticism occasionally and unfairly thrown at David is that he doesn’t transfer the power and passion of his live shows to record - there can be no such accusations here.

Unlike Ford’s previous albums, there are huge variations in pace and mood as the album progresses. ‘The Ballad Of Miss Lily’ is a balls-out stomp about a man falling in love with one of those girls who just want a guy for his money and ‘Let It Burn’ has a storming funk beat right through the middle of it with guitar licks dropping in and out in the chorus. And sandwiched between the two is ‘Isn’t It Strange’, one of those tender tear-jerking ballads that Ford produces with impressive regularity. ‘Moving On’ is another of those, talking of “a mind to let all fortune’s chips fall where they may”.  ‘What’s Not To Love’ is a simple love song played out on piano with the simple chorus refrain “if you asked me why do I love her, then tell me what’s not to love.”

It’s followed by the highlight of the album ‘Perfect Soul’, another love song but from the angle of a man pleading his case to a woman - “if you’re craving romance, then I’ll show up bearing flowers” but with the proviso “don’t go pinning all your hopes on me, I can make you a pretty promise, but that’s no guarantee.”  It’s got some beautiful brass scattered over the chorus and some unusual key changes, but it all fits together perfectly.

CHARGE may just be one of Ford’s best album to date.  It doesn’t fit as seamlessly together as the previous ones, but whilst that might be seen as an issue, it’s actually its strength.  Ford has never been an artist to play by the traditional rules and with this album he’s not bound by any pressure to sell tens of thousands of copies so it’s free of any outside constraints or expectations.

http://davidfordmusic.com/

More Images Here: http://www.shakenstir.co.uk/gallery/?album=3649&gallery=2176

STOP PRESS!!!!

It’s back!

Milk and Cookies season 2021 kicks off tomorrow night at 8:30 (UK time) with what is, for me at least, a pretty outlandish kind of show.

It might not seem like it, but there’s a lot of work and preparation that goes into every live show I perform. This time however, it is my intention not to even think about what delights the evening will hold until it’s already happening. So I’ll be looking to receive all the help and guidance I can get on the night. Request songs, ask questions, get involved because let’s face it, I could use the content.

Yes it might be a terrible idea but I suspect it could also be a lot of fun. Join me and let’s all find out together.

Once more we will be raising money for Reverse Rett and donations can be made here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/milk-and-cookies

And you can follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVxjMFNofjg&feature=youtu.be to watch the show. It’s completely free to watch but all donations are gratefully received.

See you there.

David.