Faroway
- 01. All God's Creatures
- 02. Tinker's Fires
- 03. Cuttin' Out
- 04. The Famous Elf And The Hatted Mouse
- 05. Sunrise
- 06. Lost Love
- 07. Faro Town
- 08. Twilight Town
- 09. Come To The Fair
- 10. While I'm Here
- 11. Falling
- 12. The Road
- 13. Lullaby
- 14. Good Advice
- 15. The Child At The Piano
- 16. I'm Free
- 17. I Feel Fine
Faroway(2006)
At the end of October 2006 Davy was back in Finland with a new set of quiet acoustic songs. There's a naive, wispy feel to much of the material on Faroway as titles like Twilight Town and Come To The Fair suggest. Jore's muse showed some signs of returning and he sang on three tracks for which he had provided the melodies to Davy's poems.
Faroway review by Kristi
01. All God's Creatures (Traditional)
I loved this charming rendition of the traditional song. Davy decided to record it himself after hearing it done by Tommy Maken and Liam Clancy on television. Jore plays the ukelele banjo and double bass, while Davy plays the rest. This cheery toe-tapper gets your attention right away, and gets the album off to a great start. It sounds like they really had fun singing this!
02. Tinker's Fires (McGowan/Stowell)
This song is one of my favorites, with Jore on the mandolin and Davy on the guitar. It's a Thora Stowell poem which Davy put to music - as Donovan did with The Seller of the Stars, which Thora also wrote. The words and music blend together perfectly here, and the high notes on the mandolin make for an interesting melody. The mood is wistful, and I felt part of the mystery and wonder of nature while listening to it. Very Donovan-esque - and certainly on his same level of creative talent, as well.
03. Cuttin' Out (Leitch)
Davy's harmonica and Jore on double bass adds a taste of the blues to this song by Mr. Leitch.
04. The Famous Elf And The Hatted Mouse (Heikkilä/McGowan)
One of Davy's whimsical poems which Jore has set to music. Jore did everything on this track. You can just picture this little tiny house! There is a minor chord change and a change in rhythm and tempo as he slows it down and speaks to the listener in hushed tones to tell his story.
05. Sunrise (McGowan)
Our boys are in a state of grace here as Davy plays the guitar, and Jore plays bass and accordian.
06. Lost Love (Heikkilä/McGowan)
From the introduction to this song you know that the sun isn't going to be coming out any time soon, and then you find out why. The birds cease to sing; dreams have taken flight, and it is endless night. You can really get the feeling of his mood, as the melody complements the words perfectly.
07. Faro Town (McGowan)
Here we have Jore on bass and mandolin, and Davy on the guitar. In a reflective mood, he is leaving that town behind. But he's climbing out of the darkness now, and the tempo picks up from the previous song, as he is ready to move forward.
08. Twilight Town (McGowan)
I can't say enough about this song. With Davy on the guitars and Jore playing the lead guitar part, this song has a universal appeal that would make it a worldwide hit - if only it were widely heard! (And I would be bragging that I knew Jore and Davy before they were famous - Ha!) I love the charming imagery of 'Twilight Town'- and the way the soothing, peaceful melody blends with it really stays with you! I can just picture the old stone cross, the old man in the candlelight, the children asleep in their trundle beds. The lyrics sing with poetry - the river flows, the sweet nightingale sings...while the equally magical melody transports you to where "the cool clear river flows". Davy and Jore paint a picture for us in this very visual song, and employ all of our senses as they bring the sights and sounds of this enchanting place alive in our minds. The guitar interlude gives you time to reflect on the picture they've just painted. The homey, romantic, old-fashioned images of the cobbled streets, the cottages, the legends of fairies who play on the moss - along with the cheerful melody, soft voice, and Davy's Scottish brogue all meld together to leave an unforgettable impression on the listener's heart. Just two dreams up and three roads down, there is a place of irresistable appeal to escape to at the end of a long, hard day - far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. VERY beautifully done!
09. Come To The Fair (McGowan)
Here's another lovely, romantic song that anyone would love. It starts out with Jore's deep base, and you wonder what's coming next. The song is rife with possiblities - you're going to the fair, and you can find anything you want there. The little twinkling sound in the background - was it bells, or a xylophone? - adds a subdued, tender touch, and adds an extra note of enchantment to the melody.
10. While I'm Here (McGowan)
This love song features both Jore and Davy on the guitar, with Davy on the xylophone. The chord changes signal a change in feeling which contrasts to the earlier playful mood, when he begins to think more seriosly about her.
11. Falling (McGowan)
Davy plays the guitar while Jore plays all the other instruments to create this lovely, complex sound. It's as though he is talking to you, and he shifts at the end to a different mood. I like the effect of the high notes in the background, the shift to the different chords, and what sounds like an organ and mandolin strings.
12. The Road (Leitch)
Here we have Donovan played entirely by Jore - a real pretty song, which sounds to me like a combination of harpsichord, accordian, and tambourine with a heavy base beat.
13. Lullaby (McGowan)
Life is indeed a half-written song, Davy! I like the repeating melody pattern, with the cascading up and down sound of the strings.
14. Good Advice (Heikkilä/McGowan)
Another of Davy's poems that Jore put to music - and Jore does everything on this one. There is a military tapping in the background, like the marching beat of snare drums, in this song about the war.
15. The Child At The Piano (McGowan)
An interesting beginning with the plucking of the strings, then chords, then drifting into the piano background in this calm and peaceful number.
16. I'm Free (McGowan)
One of Davy's favorites, and I can see why! He feels free - almost like daydreaming along the beach - as he drifts in and out of this dreamy mood. The banjo accompaniment along with what sounds like a touch of the organ or possibly a recorder in the background creates a gentle feel.
17. I Feel Fine (McGowan)
Davy plays the guitar and sings, while Jore does all the rest - including some backing vocals at the end. The melody here is in keeping with and adds to the reflective tone of the song. This is a good way to end this collection of both dark and happy songs. He understands that there will be some of both, but realizes that whatever happens, he will be fine.
This album is a collective journey through different places, moods, and remembrances.
Many thanks to Davy and Jore for sharing this great music with their lucky fans - as well as for the time that they spent explaining the background of each song to me.
These two have been good to us all... and, as we all know, "Sweetness Rules!" around here! Anyone who doesn't know this yet is just sadly "out of the loop", I'm afraid! They both qualify as "Mr. Sunshines", I'd say!
Kristi
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