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David Kidman— United Kingdom—September 2001
Another discovery! Full-time singer-songwriter since 1996, former blackjack champion and peace activist Darryl notches up his fourth album of self-penned songs. I’d not previously heard of Darryl, but I really liked this release, on which he weaves stories of gamblers, losers, wanderers and other dark characters with considerable insight and sympathy. I’m hard pressed to find a comparison or reference point that readers will have heard of, but suffice to say that Darryl’s gentle manner and precise observational skills are vital and captivating, his vocal style and smoothly proficient fingerstyle guitar work very attractive indeed. Various tracks also involve (in selective combinations) the supporting talents of duo Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, Dan Tyack (great pedal steel playing), Doug Wintch, Keith Lowe, Todd Gray and Ellis Paul. The plaintive closer, I Can Get There From Here (which is dedicated to the 1986 GND peace march participants) features a chamber-style string arrangement, which proves moving and effective. And Darryl’s impressively detailed story-songs effortlessly pass one of my particular acid-tests—they have a habit of resonating in the mind long after play has ceased. His special worldview, born of the truth of experience, is sure worth investigating. (Distributed by Pinnacle.) |
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