Album Review: James Findlay - Sport and Play (Fellside)

If you were to hear this voice first, then discover the fresh-faced youth on the cover next, you would probably be somewhat perplexed. With a strong and convincingly mature voice, 20 year-old Dorset-born singer, guitarist and fiddle player James Findlay presents a dozen songs, mostly traditional with the one contemporary inclusion, Jerry Bird's Somerset mining industry ballad Black Hills of Mendip, which stylistically fits in perfectly well the remainder of the collection.

For those of us who remember all those early 1970s Trailor LPs, particularly Songs of a Changing World, the spirit of Tony Rose, Jon Raven and Nic Jones can be felt throughout this album. Nic Jones is to this BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner what Dick Gaughan is to Horizon award recipient Ewan McLennan, that is, a strong influential template from which to draw upon, most notably on Lakes of Shilin, which is presented here as a blend of the Jones and Rose versions, together with the enduring melody of the old hymn Lord of All Hopefulness.

The unaccompanied Tam Lin, which is described here as 'an ancient fairy/surprise sex/Halloween/shape shifter ballad', demonstrates Findlay's masterful command over story telling. There are some tender moments on SPORT AND PLAY, such as When a Man's in Love, which also demonstrates Findlay's fluid guitar style. Described as the 'cheeriest death by childbirth song on the album', this fine collection concludes with Findlay's reading of the timeless Foggy Dew.  

With some subtle assistance from sister Lucy, who provides sibling harmonies and Alex Cumming on accordion, Findlay's debut will probably guarantee a place in the evolving tradition, as well as a fruitful addition to Fellside's track record.