A few months ago I covered a Suzanne Vega concert at Liverpool’s wonderful Philharmonic. Supporting was a young British singer/songwriter called David Ford whose songs and performance floored me. In fact he was the best new UK singer/songwriter I’ve seen in several years. I then sat patiently in the hope that a PR company would send me along his EP/Album to review which I assumed would contain at least some of the great songs sung at that concert. Well, eventually it arrived and just in time for me to consider it for our ‘albums of the year’ list…

The first track, ‘Go To Hell’, transported me back to that show, and summed up in one song why Ford is such a fantastic prospect. His voice is similar to Damien Rice but with a harder and more expressive edge. The song is beautifully written and is transported along by a superb melody, explosive choruses and a beautifully judged instrumental arrangement. It’s pretty near perfect. Next up is ‘Decimate’ is an upbeat, distinctive love song with a driving beat and very clear vocal. It’s the pop calm before the folk storm… ‘I’m Alright Now’ opens quietly enough with wandering violin passages but one gets the feeling that a storm is coming. And sure enough the powerful chorus arrives to jolt you out of your seat as the vocal lifts several octaves along with the orchestration. Good? It’s inspirational. ‘Songs For The Road is contemporary folk at its very best, with its wandering piano notes and lyrics that are beyond reproach. There’s also a typically strong melody and a pace that slows and quickens to emphasise the song’s moving sentiments. ‘Train’ is a pleasant country tinged love song, while ‘St Peter’ is another superb folk song. Then comes the sucker punch in the polemical and angry ‘Requiem’ which will have you reeling with its folk ambience, subtle opening gambit, threatening bass line and building, crashing crescendo. The lyrics are astounding: “Every administration blames the one from last year, so when consequence calls there’ll be nobody here…” If you get the chance to see Ford in your neck of the woods, his performance of this song will stun you. The final song (the retail pack has two further songs), ‘… And So You Fell’, is a beautiful, slow-moving, contemplative song that sounds like a lullaby.

From that first live performance I thought Ford was special, and this album confirms it. Essential.

4.5/5