Dan Tindall - Harrisburg (Independent)

It's Folk Jim, and exactly as we know it. 'Harrisburg' is the Folkiest of Folk offerings I've heard in a while, firmly embedded as it is in the Dylan-esque tradition of singer-songwriters blending a heightened sense of lyricism with often slightly bland instrumental sensibilities. A style which you either judge on it's own terms, by focusing attention upon the linguistic content, or try to objectify and take as a musical whole, which all too often highlights a certain laziness on the behalf of the creator.

Anyway, Dan Tindall's effort certainly falls pray to a sense of musical familiarity, with virtually nothing out of the ordinary emerging from the traditionally structured acoustic guitar and sporadic harmonica interludes. If you know Bob Dylan, or even the vaguest aspects of the Folk movement that follows his near omnipresent example, then you'll immediately know what to expect here and I don't necessarily say that as a bad thing given that whilst unoriginal it's still a style which was chosen for a reason in the first place, that reason being to grant more space and attention to the poetic aspects of it all which are more often than not the main interest of the musician themselves.

It does disappoint me a little I have to admit, neophile that I am, I generally want to hear something genre-breaking in even the most obviously conservative of albums but that the audience is there for this sort of thing I don't deny. Although sometimes I do wonder if that audience is largely made up of Folk singer-songwriters who feel obliged to indulge in other peoples work in order to grant their own efforts some sense of popularity and vibrancy. But then I'm a cynical old bastard.

Lyrically and vocally Dan does manage some charm with 'Harrisburg'. His voice is a well managed one which follows definite structures throughout the album and it's clear that some thought at least has been put into deciding what those structures should be. With occasional glimpses of slightly off-beat novelty he still manages to stick to his strengths without overstretching, or underdoing, those aspects which differentiate him from other, similar, artists. Although on rare occasion that near-obliged genre trait of trying to sound like Bob Dylan does rear its familiar head albeit to no great effect. The content of the songs themselves is pleasantly interesting; not quite demanding major intellectual investment from the listener but holding the attention of those willing to pay attention. It's definitely on the side of gently emotional poetry though and if you're in the mood for something to really invest yourself in you'd be better off pointing your ears in the direction of Abstract Hip-Hop and Trip-Hop, the two of which seem to have taken on the crown of intellectual lyricism of late.

Ultimately this album is what it is and you can probably fix an idea of what that is in your head without any further explanation from me, so I'll grant it a tentative recommendation reliant on peoples feelings towards Folky Folk; if you like it this is worth a download, if you're indifferent then, well, it's pretty much an indifferent offering.

Download 'Harrisburg' (Direct Download)