Foy Vance: The Wild Swan
Foy Vance
The Wild Swan
(Gingerbread Man Records)
Foy Vance is the kind of artist who ends his gigs with his fans singing for 10 minutes after heās left the stage, even if they didnāt know the lyrics before walking through the door. The masterful Northern Irish singer/songwriter has found a home at Ed Sheeranās record label and has been opening for major acts like Sheeran, Josh Groban, and even Elton John. If youāre not familiar with his husky, blue-eyed soul bellow, you ought to acquaint yourself immediately.
Let me get my minor complaint about The Wild Swan out of the way first. There are a few songs on here that I want to skip every time they come on. Theyāre just too mellow or dispassionate. For instance, knowing that āCocoā is about Courteney Cox and David Arquetteās daughter makes it a strange listen. Why speculate about whether her father is proud? It seems more like a song to share at a party than put on a record. A couple others lack in energy, though Iām sure that live, Vance can turn on the charm to make them into winners. The good news is that the captivating songs far outweigh the throwaways. āNoam Chomsky is a Soft Revolutionā is a bit of fun, old-style rock, complete with horns. āBangor Town,ā an ode to Vanceās hometown, is a piano-driven, delicate ode with beautiful writing like, āOur minds are tethered, but our hearts are wild in Bangor town.ā āBurdenā is a barefaced ode to brotherly love, while āFire It Up Ā (The Silver Spear)ā relishes in a folk vibe, complete with military drumbeat. āShe Burnsā shows off Foyās writing at its best, comparing a woman to āa little explosion of hopeā and āpetrol-soaked paper and fireworks.ā This, combined with his soulful voice, is what makes him an artist who deserves to have success far beyond what heās already accomplished.