interesting (collector's) records from buskers

Singer-Songwriters / (Buskers) presents :

Pat Orchard

Pat Orchard was a discovery, especially for his album "Shabby Road" (****), a classic for its powerful acoustic guitar(s) play, good texts and stark voice. Also "Clearwater days " (***), a bit Nick Drake-like was already worth discovering. The band's release was not really my cup of tea. His latest, more easy tempo release, "Outside" (**°) contains also nice sounding songs, (slightly jazzy pop folk, some tracks are a bit more light weighted musically) in an early evening mood. Personally I suggest to try the more progressive "Shabby Road" (at first). It depends what kind of mood you prefer to start from.

Lawrence Woolfe liked the singer in general very much. He did the reviews about all his releases. I lost his own "Shabby Road" review, so I published mine there in stead.

cd 1 (199?), cd 2 (1999), cd 3 (2000), cd 4 (2002) (some reviews by L.W.)

Private Pat Orchard : Clearwater Days (199?) (my opinion : **°)

"This CD release from singer/songwriter Pat Orchard is the perfect antidote to the overdriven angst that occupies a good portion of the current grunge rock circus. Here we have songs, quietly sung for the most part against a backdrop of acoustic guitar, with occasional keyboards, piano and cello, providing moods and atmospheres.

The voice sometimes reminds me of Nick Drake whilst the final track, 'For All And None' has slight echoes of Donovan - something in the combination of voice and arrangement. 'When We Were Young' is a mellow opener, the lyrics reflecting upon the passage of idyllic days spent at a coastal location. 'Sorry Man' is a beautifully delivered story about Ruby, a down-and-out who smiles through her misfortune and "puts this sorry man to shame "the title track is a more upbeat song musically and lyrical it occupies the same territory as the opening number. We then move into the wonderfully atmospheric 'Family Tree', just voice and what sounds like a guitar fed through an echo pedal (reminiscent of John Martyn's work on One World), and onto 'The Ark' with it's guitar and piano arrangement perfectly set against a dreamy vocal. 'Rise' has a fuller production, and like the title track - though not as immediate, has grown upon me after repeated listens. The reflective tone and nature of 'When The Night' returns us to the earlier themes, memories and daydreams, whilst 'Scared To Be Alone' is a stark vocal and solo observation on loneliness. I wonder how many barflies would flinch at the recognition on hearing this song? 'For All And None' closes the album with observations from the perspective of the street musician. How many London commuters have passed this music by?

Overall the impression this CD gives is of quiet understatement. It is a pleasure to be confronted with a CD where the music invites you in and the term 'singer-songwriter/guitarist' are in balance. No guitar showing-off here, just excellent playing treating the songs with respect. No this isn't rock, nor is it folk. This is music that inhabits the territory we know as singer/songwriter' in this case with integrity and intimacy intact. By the way, see this man live when his guitar playing is well to the fore." L.Woolfe

(PS. CD limited a 1000 copies).

PrivatePat Orchard : Southern Skies (1999) (L.Woolfe review ; not suitable for my interests)

'Southern Skies' is the 3rd release from British singer-songwriter / guitarist Pat Orchard. The ingredients that make 'Clearwater Days' such an enjoyable listen, the superb acoustic guitar playing, the quietly observed lyric writing and the breathy melodic vocal delivery, are all in evidence. This time around the songs are mainly love vignettes with an intense well observed personal quality that inhabits territories of the heart, without resorting to sentimentalities or reportage of a voyeuristic or sensationalist nature which is the seeming stock in track of too many singer-songwriters at this time.

In addition to the nine songs on the CD there are three instrumental tracks, two of which "Jacob" and "Folly's" are short evocative guitar pieces. The other instrumentated "Wasa Dawn" is a short link between "Colours in a lovers eyes" ( a tale of Spanish girl meets English boy) and the title track. 'Southern Skies' is a timeless story of young love, skinny dipping, showing something that "this heart can't forget". Musically these tracks join seamlessly. "Follys Gate" sets the mood for and runs in to "Scarecrow Heart", a wonderful song, musically and lyrically. "Life Size" is a moody, late night melancholy song reflecting on feeling the blues whilst "Sunflower" is a metaphor for fading aspirations, beauty, love and life. Another particular favourite of mine is "Souvenir". Just voice, guitar and e-bow on a song that captures disillusionment in the "rhymes and the reasons" for love songs, expression, collecting personal experiences that slowly recede into far comers of memory. It may be the songwriter knows that ultimately endeavour, addressed to someone who will never hear for less appreciate it, is only a transitory moment or feeling.

Pat Orchard is a unique honest voice, in a world that accepts corruption of spirit and affection ? in place of substance, as its main diet. A quite beautiful CD that deserves the attention of intelligent and sensitive souls everywhere.

Lawrence Woolfe

Private Pat Orchard : Shabby Road (2000)****'

I notices very good texts, voice, guitar playing and production. This release is a good example of how production of just guitar/voice can be in a perfect balance to become extremely interesting. Beautiful open tunings...

On "Shabby Road" the guitar sound sometimes almost as if the guitar is another complex electronic rhythm device. Recorded on an 8-track. "Though Louck" has some extremely interesting fingerpicking reminding me at some tracks on Rainmaker from Michael Chapman. Haunting and in its way progressive. "Night Train" puts an echo on the fingerpicking thus illustrating a train travel in an almost psychedelic visionary way. "Indian Giver" contuines with a driving playing and powerful haunting melody/voice (without echo, but with same "drive"). "Sunday Parade" is another pearl. A quiet song with nice lyrics, with guitar picking. "Wild West End" is a powerful critical (politics and social conscious busker) song. Into deep emotions on the next great song "Poorman's Earth". After one longer track "Monopoly town" the intimite melancholic but nicely sung last track leaves us touched by this very recommended release. For me his best so far. His first release is more intimite and personal. The second one is with a band (with a more modern rock pop sound). This is the third release.

Private

Pat Orchard : Outside (2002) (a Lawrence Woolfe review)

After the acoustic solo CD "Shabby Road" British singer-songwriter and consummate guitarist Pat Orchard releases his fifth collection of songs, "Outside". The lyric themes and music inhabit territories between his lost CD which was more upbeat, angry in a controlled expressive way about life's state of play, personal or otherwise, and the wonderful 'Southern Skies' with its more quietly intense observations on human need and love.

This CD opens with the title track, the shortest track and has a light jazzy feel, piano and guitar fluidly setting up a late night into dawn atmosphere that perfectly captures the melancholy of the observer's isolation. The mood of the music, returns a few songs later on the albums largest track "Earthbound". The atmosphere is set up by light acoustic guitar, piano and cymbal brush work until about 3 min. 45 sec. Before the song begins. The singer is musing on his longing for a particular girl, whom he observes is airbound "like the stars above" whilst he is so earthbound. At just over 9 minutes it's a gem. In fact the song preceding it, "Beautiful Poison" set's "Earthbound" up. The verses are lightly upbeat with some trademark guitar then the chorus dips moodily and magically to give the lyrics a reflective intensity. Following the second chorus, there is a quite exquisite piece of guitar playing.

After 'Earthbound' comes two definably more altering (?) tracks. Praying the "Praying the wrong one" is downtrodder by society, loser planned to God when he gets up to heaven, asking where was my share. On "Fish" Pat plays mandolin as well as guitar. The song is, like "Praying.." musically upbeat statement. With an amusing lyric this could be the song that is most accessible in terms of popular appeal. It takes a nice swipe at the political animals' hypocritical standards and at human notice (?) in general as fish who have "learn how to walk". For all fans of dawning ? in theory !

" Rain comes Dawn" is a song I heard some time ago and wondered about. At last it surfaces and what a highlight it is. Playing with the theme of travelling the restless spirit who's "never happy still" the song captures the essence of continual movement, dissatisfaction, searching and the price that has to be paid inevitably. Great structure andand guitar playing for the opening finger picking, the verse chord structure to the killer chorus "Around the corner etc." into a musical bridge with cascading high stunning gentle finger picking mimicry rainfall, this is an absolute beauty. So good it is that the 6 minutes duration seems too short oh well, just have to repeat it. Magisterial !

The CD finishes with the quiet reflective "mindwalking" and returns in to where the CD began in terms of lyrical mood. A perfect closer capturing the sense of loneliness and longing whilst wandering the streets of London's West End on the outside of the gaudy hustle, an observer. This CD has the stamps of mystery, magic and humanity to it. For all discerning listeners it is an essential experience. I'll say it again Pat Orchard is a unique singer-songwriter / guitarist.

Web page (with sound files) at http://www.patorchard.com/ E-mail : pat@patorchard.com

Other page with review at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/patorchard/

Review of first release at http://www.io.com/~ccurley/ri4_05.htm

Review of second release at http://www.cycle-records.demon.co.uk/patorchard.html

Live pictures at http://users.bart.nl/~cvdlely/terrastock/terrapo.html