Design By Humans
Published On: Tue, Jun 28th, 2016

Foy Vance: The Wild Swan

foyFoy Vance
The Wild Swan
(Gingerbread Man Records)

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Foy Vance is the kind of artist who ends his gigs with his fans singing for 10 minutes after heā€™s left the stage, even if they didnā€™t know the lyrics before walking through the door. The masterful Northern Irish singer/songwriter has found a home at Ed Sheeranā€™s record label and has been opening for major acts like Sheeran, Josh Groban, and even Elton John. If youā€™re 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. Theyā€™re just too mellow or dispassionate. For instance, knowing that ā€œCocoā€ is about Courteney Cox and David Arquetteā€™s 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 Iā€™m 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. ā€œNoam Chomsky is a Soft Revolutionā€ is a bit of fun, old-style rock, complete with horns. ā€œBangor Town,ā€ an ode to Vanceā€™s hometown, is a piano-driven, delicate ode with beautiful writing like, ā€œOur minds are tethered, but our hearts are wild in Bangor town.ā€ ā€œBurdenā€ is a barefaced ode to brotherly love, while ā€œFire It Up Ā (The Silver Spear)ā€ relishes in a folk vibe, complete with military drumbeat. ā€œShe Burnsā€ shows off Foyā€™s writing at its best, comparing a woman to ā€œa little explosion of hopeā€ and ā€œpetrol-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 heā€™s already accomplished.

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Foy Vance: The Wild Swan