Tim Readman
Into the Red
self-released (2001)
http://www.timreadman.com/

If you live up here in Cascadia, you might remember Vancouverian Tim Readman from the folk band Fear Of Drinking. My favorite part of that band was when they tossed around the plastic inflatible dinosaur. The FOD albums juxtaposed Celticish traditional music with originals. This solo album from singer/guitarist Tim is all originals.

Tim is from Northeastern England and emigrated to Canada, one reason FOD had that British flavor to it. Some of these original songs sound British, some generic, contemporary and pop-influenced. As a traditionalist I particularly like "$1000 Ring" which is a rewrite of old songs along the line of "John Riley"...a Vancouver man gives his girlfriend a ring to pay for an abortion, she gives it to her son at 21, and the father and son meet years later in a far-away bar (coincidently back in Northeastern England).
Oh, pray tell me your mothers name, her name was Nancy White
Which was the colour that he turned as if he'd had a fright.

But probably the most interesting song is contemporary folk set back in England, "The Sparky's Lament." A sailor sends substantial momentos back to Liverpool for his mother to save for him. When she dies, he returns to find his siblings dividing the loot in the box, his old house had become a car park, his old school burnt down, everything gone. What a mess! So he takes his box and returns to sea (maybe putting the box in storage?), everything of his now within himself. Some people might hear Jez Lowe in this song. Another song tells about his wacky holidays as a child.

If you love life, it'll love you back. The rest of In the Red I recall in short chunks, because the style is soften not "mine." Tim's themes can be dismal and the verses esoteric, but a ragged optimism shines through, partly in the word plays he uses. Amy Stephen's accordion accompanies commentary on Dave Alexander's governmentally-disapproved junk museum (this needs an explanation in the liner notes!) A love affair goes awry. Canada is wonderful, compared to the alternatives (and I would have to agree here...). The political world and the environment have gone to hell. It's no wonder the peace is shattered, shattered into pieces.

write: gennett at gorge dot net

The Columbia Gypsy