Skywriter
Bill Hammond
Flippo Records
2000
12 tracks
While it may be uneven in some respects, Bill Hammond's debut CD, Skywriter, is on the whole a pleasant collection of songs well written and performed. The only real problem I found with this release is technical, not musical. But more on that later. This is the sort of music that can be heard in folk clubs all across North America, written and performed by local artists for the enjoyment of their friends and neighbours. Local music such as this is the heart and soul of the folk community.
Hammond sets the mood and draws the listener into his work with a lovely solo guitar piece ("Raven") seguéd into a pleasant version of Peter Mayer's "Gitchi Gummi" (one of only two songs on this release not written by Hammond). I can see this medley fitting in quite well as fill on some program on the CBC or some American NPR station, enhancing the mood of whatever might be the topic of the day.
"Raven" is only the first of eight solo guitar numbers on Skywriter. In my opinion, these are the best, most interesting tracks on this release. Hammond has an unassuming approach to the guitar that allows the listener to relax and settle into the music like an old chesterfield. There's no virtuoso turns here, no hot licks to astound the players in the audience, no ego trips. The playing is restrained but skilled and confident, suitable for background at the local supper club or to make up a relaxing set at any folk club. As a composer and player of guitar songs, Hammond excels.
The remaining songs written by Hammond stand up well but are not really exceptional. These songs too have a solid musical base, being both composed and performed by a musician with obvious talent. However, the lyrics are not as strong as the music, and Hammonds vocals are still at the playing for friends at the local folk club level. This is not to say that either the lyrics or the vocals are inferior in any way, only that they are commonplace.
"Skywriter" has an autobiographical feel to it. While ostensibly about the wish to fly above the earth, it could also stand as a metaphor for Hammonds wish to be a writer, to fly above the real world in yet another sense. (Besides being a songwriter, Hammond is a successful journalist.) The song works on both levels. The well-written lyric, while on a common theme, manages to be interesting from beginning to end."Rhubarb Pie" features the type of humourous lyric often performed at folk clubs by the local wit, serving up friends and neighbours with a story somewhere between children's song and serious folk music. While this song succeeds at some level, there is a sense that it could be better. Its problem is that it's competing with some classic songs: "The Marvelous Toy" and many others.
"Set a Course" is a sweet, soulful song of remembrance and regret. In places, it sounds like a Paul Stookey song [never a negative comparison]. The percussion and some of the melodic elements add a slightly Caribbean/latin feel which brings interest to what might otherwise be a rather ordinary song.
Although the similarity is subtle, the instrumental "Birdseye" brings to me echoes of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind" from so long ago. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the resemblance seems to have something to do with the particular chord progressions selected, or perhaps just the timing.
"Route 66/35" is an interesting adaptation of the classic Bobby Troup song, incorporating Hammonds additional verses about Route 35. At its own level, it works. Musically, this is a lively pop-folk performance sure to hold audince attention in a live performance. It's also arguably Hammond's best performance on this release as a vocalist. Hammond's supplementary lyric is well-written, but lacks Troup's flair and subtlety. Because of this, it tends to sound more than anything else like the backing track for a State of Minnesota travelogue.
Some music CD's, usually CDR recordings, will play perfectly in a CD-ROM drive but develop a variety of problems when placed in a standard CD player, up to and including not playing at all. It's interesting to note that this release [or at least the copy I have] has quite the opposite problem. In the CD player, it works just fine. In one of my CD-ROM drives, it develops substantial noise, much like that generated by a very dirty 78 rpm record, overriding the music, and the final cut starts then immediately refuses to play. In my other CD-ROM drive, the disc is not even recognized as a music CD, so will not play at all unless the tracks are individually selected. Yet this drive doesn't have that extraneous noise but plays cleanly.
Skywriter is a collection of pleasant music that will fit well in almost any quiet environment. As a recording, this feels mostly like background, environmental music designed to set a comfortable ambience. I get the feeling that this set would work better performed live in a small folk club and would possibly take on a life all its own in such a welcoming surrounding.
You can get more information on Bill Hammond and listen to some of this music at his site on mp3.com or, if you'd like a personal copy of Skywriter, you can e-mail Bill and he can tell you how you can get one.|
Since about February 14, 2004 |
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