Strident, resistant and ceaselessly melodic, ‘Songs For The Road’ is the second album from David Ford, set for release on Independiente on October 15th 2007.
If his critically acclaimed debut was born of reflection in his basement bound home studio, the triumphant swell of ‘Songs For The Road’ is cut from the breadth of his encounters on the subsequent tour.
Hung around the heartfelt embrace of the title track sat at the apex of the album, David Ford moves on from the self-recrimination of his debut, into the narrative and characterisation of a year on the road. Railing against a deep south fanatic on “St Peter”, adopting the affable yet doomed persona of a bar pushing drunk on “Nobody Tells Me What To Do” and at the album’s close, a troubadour’s message of troubled understanding to a friend who chose to end it all “…And So You Fell”.
As before David Ford never dodges his own bullets; opener “Go To Hell” is a crushing opus that would be spiteful if directed at anyone but himself, and while “Requiem” has our protagonist at his most politically disaffected, its conscience is willing to share the blame.
Amid these compromised characters and bouts of self-flagellation is new warmth to Ford’s music. On the Motown romp of “Decimate”, slow burner “I’m Alright Now” and amongst the album’s sweeping strings, is a greater confidence and appeal.
Ford initially worked alone – as he had on his debut – but sensing some tracks needed more than his DIY magic he brought in James Brown (Nine Inch Nails, The Killers, Ash) to co-produce five of the tracks alongside him. After James went back to the States, the production team of Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby (Plan B, Get Cape, Ian Brown) were recruited to bring their mixing skills to the final four tracks.
“My first album was basically bedroom demos with ideas way above their station,” Ford says. “This one sounds more like a record.”
Following the acclaimed release of ‘I Sincerely Apologise For The Trouble I Have Caused’ in the UK, David Ford spent much of 2005 in the U.S where his debut album – released on Columbia – met with an equally warm reception. Stunning reviews ran in the New York Times, Rolling Stone and Variety and Ford found himself championed by NBC’s Carson Daly on whose show he appeared three times. Support slots with Richard Ashcroft, Ray Lamontagne and Aimee Mann followed, with Ford now counting Neil Young and Springsteen amongst his fans.
David Ford supported Duke Spirit at the ICA on July 29th 2007 as part of the iTunes festival ahead of two headlining shows at THE SOHO REVUE BAR on 1st and 8th AUGUST 2007.
Praise for David Ford’s debut, ‘I Sincerely Apologise For The Trouble I’ve Caused’:
“Simultaneously lacerating and tender… not for the emotionally fragile” **** Q
“One foot in David Gray’s camp and one in Curt Cobain’s… in between is a life lived.” – WORD
“Continues to show how this “sensitive singer songwriter” should really be done” – SUNDAY TIMES
“as full of romantic doom as anything you’ll hear this year. One to watch.” – UNCUT
“This is brilliant – for people who actually give a s***” – **** THE FLY
“a sublime listening experience” – CLASH
1 thought on “David Ford new album Songs For The Road set for release on Independiente”
Comments are closed.