Fabian Holland - Fabian Holland

by Lisa Torem

published: 31 / 10 / 2013

Label: Rooksmere Records
Format: CD

Evocative combination of traditional numbers and originals on debut album from London-based singer-songwriter and folk artist, Fabian Holland

Review

Fabian Holland’s self-titled debut is a knockout in every possible way. It includes a few traditionals: ‘Banks of the Dee’ and ‘Dr. Price’ and a sensational cover of Skip James' ‘Hard Times Killing Floor Blues’ as well as hard hitting originals, but it is Fabian’s personality, which shines through with his resonant vocals and expert arranging that raise the roof. Whilst the whole album is solid and riveting, several tracks deserve mention. ‘The Landlord’s Daughter’ contains fierce, but realistic lyrics. Through hammer ons, pull offs, tasteful harmonics and a steady narration, Holland conveys the agony of a young girl, whose lover and father are at odds. Their tryst results in violence and grief and Holland, unflinchingly, leads us to the sad result, through surprisingly subtle musicianship; each chord echoing the mounting tension. ‘Home’ is about a young man, scared, who looks forward to a bright future in London. His letters from his family punctuate his shame; fortune eludes him and survival grows unattainable. “Can’t return home, I’m a mess,” he tells us, cryptically but gently, even as bad news of his mum beckons him back. On ‘Mad Eric,’ the subtle murmur of a blues harp becomes tsunamic as the moving story unfolds — “play that blues you know” he repeats, even though the poor soul’s trajectory appears condemned. ‘Little Boy Jonny’ is also about disillusionment – in this case, told from a naïve soldier’s viewpoint. “To serve his country was his dream,” Holland asserts, but the dream, too, gets upended. “Enemies were fierce, fierce, fierce” and he was “armed with nothing but a flag and a son.” It is an unspeakably beautiful story and fiercely heartfelt. On ‘Father Like Son,’ Holland, in his magical way, takes his time to express himself. Like ‘Cat’s Cradle,” it is poignant and riddled with irony. On ‘Hard Time Killing Floor Blues’ he embraces his deep Delta influences, which he explored first at a very young age in his musical family. He gives the song, though, a decidedly Celtic re-examination, which adds an entirely new dimension. It is slow, dark, moving and unforgettable. Mark Hutchinson (Blair Dunlop, Walsh) is the producer and, fortunately, he and Holland agreed to keep the production simple, but solid. Besides the occasional rings of blues harp or strings, it is essentially Holland and his touching vocals against his acoustically perfect playing Holland studied at Guildford’s Academy of Contemporary Music, and spent four years in Italy honing his skills. He currently lives on London’s canal network. His travels have inspired his craft: “Most of my songs are stories influenced by people I’ve met along the years, and I’ve travelled about a bit so I’ve met all sorts of interesting people,” he says. Consider Fabian Holland’s debut one of the not-to-be missed recordings of 2013 as it combines a wealth of tradition with down home American classics and his unique brand of story telling.

Track Listing:-

1 The Landlord's Daughter
2 Hard Time Killing Floor Blues
3 Little Boy Jonny
4 Like Father Like Son
5 Dr Price
6 Home
7 Charlie
8 Mad Eric
9 Banks of the Dee