Kris Drever – Blackwater
Kris Drever arrives as a solo artist with an impeccable folk pedigree and his first album ‘Blackwater' is a significant addition to the current phase of the never ending folk revival.
Unlike others, some also scions of folk families, Kris has not burst upon the scene but has developed his talents through a process which ensures a solid foundation for a long career. His journey has taken him from Orkney where, the son of Ivan Drever of Wolfstone fame, he first began to play and sing, to the folk clubs of Edinburgh where he plied his trade as a teenager, to touring and recording with many of the brightest and best of the new folk generation.
Now it's his turn to take centre stage and he does it with a voice full of resonance and character and a judicious selection of old and new songs that, once heard, won't leave you alone.
I hope Kris won't mind the comparison, but this album had a similar effect on me as Kate Rusby's first. I couldn't wait to play it again and it gets better every time.
The songs are not Kris' as they're either traditional or written by others, but he makes each one distinctively his own. He has an accent that engages but never overwhelms the material. His voice draws you in and his phrasing brings the words to life. All this, and guitar work which underpins and enhances the essence of each song. And then there are the two instrumental medleys which demonstrate that, even without such a special voice, he would have a great future as a folk guitarist. I can't wait to hear the imminent album by Lau, Kris' group with Aidan O'Rourke on fiddle and Martin Green on accordion.
To further whet your appetite ‘Blackwater' was produced by John McCusker at Pure Studios. If I hadn't read the credits, I would have known it was John anyway both from the production and from his own contributions. Kris also has the sterling support of Kate Rusby herself, Andy Cutting, Eddi Reader, Roddy Woomble, Andy Seward and Donald Shaw – names to make your mouth water. I just love the way these people work together, live and on one another's albums – never incestuous, just great networking with each one taking their turn at the front. They add colour to the album, but Kris' voice and guitar are always the main focus.
The traditional material includes the well known – Patrick Spence (didn't think I ever wanted to hear another version but Kris makes it new again) and Green Grow the Laurel, together with Braw Sailin' on the Sea and the secret track (don't tell anyone) Farewell to Fuineray which others may know but I didn't.
Contemporary material is well chosen to include laments for lost work which, though hard, gave people identity in Boo Hewardine's Harvest Gypsies and the magnificent Navigator, to the consequences in Poor Man's Son when work has no identity and robbery is turned to instead, to more elusive themes with Steel and Stone (Black Water) and Beads and Feathers.
All in all, there really is nothing to fault in this album. We're going to be hearing a lot more of Kris Drever, make sure you start here.
Paul Villiers