Silent Poetry

Darren Black

Darren Black is an emerging talent on the folk scene hailing from Winchester. He's not necessarily a new kid on the block as he's worked his way through several groups with a more indie tinge. Now he's found his niche, or so it would seem, on this assured release.

Darren presents the songs on Silent Poetry with just his voice and guitar or fiddle for accompaniment. On first listen this sounds as simple as it looks on paper, slowly though you realise just how contrasting a skilled practitioner such as Darren can make this all sound.

His guitar playing is varied enough to give us gratifying sensitivity and propulsive flourishes a la Richie Havens. To have his fiddle at hand as well, used here on two tracks, adds another useful dimension. Coupled with a voice that has a gentle burr and a resilient edge when called for thoughts of a certain Mr Gaughan are never too far away.

First up is a moving elegy to workers who've lost their livelihoods in the shape of The Grand Executioner. From the off Darren convinces us of the importance of the subject matter applying all the prowess of a versatile and talented storyteller. There are some choice lines that take us from the optimistic,

'The mills they were teeming and all we knew had purpose and meaning.'

to the final hammer blow;

'But then one day the Grand Executioner came and pulled the rug from under our feet.'

He has a definite love of words finely illustrated by further writings on his website. There's a sense of each subject having been picked over for unseen detail. Despite him being a thinker these songs aren't studious or laboured. This is still catchy stuff.

War, greed and societies ills feature strongly on several of Silent Poetry's tracks. 'As the Oil Fields Burn' being an obvious example and another standout track. This is all balanced nicely with poems detailing our bonds to people and the earth. One particularly touching refrain being a plee to

'Leave us the forest sun, leave us the forest sun. So when the day is done. We've got somewhere left to run.'

This CD has passed through some experienced hands before it arrived at it's final stage. Initially recorded at Dave Swarbrick's house before being produced by Kevin Dempsey. Then with final mastering from Joe Broughton it's a bit of a surprise it sounds kind of raw actually. Not un-produced just alive with a certain rusticity that's appropriate and stands up to repeated listens.

Like the best folk songs these feel that they have a purpose beyond entertainment. They spark our minds and inform us of how rich and varied life can be. Silent Poetry should prove to be a great springboard for Darren and what will hopefully be a long career.

Dave Kushar