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charlene · 07-20-2004, 02:57 PM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/.../harmony.shtml

GORDON LIGHTFOOT
Harmony
CNR Records 22 999062

If he'd done nothing else other than write Early Morning Rain and The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald, Gordon Lightfoot would have ensured his place in the infrastructure of the British Folk Club through innumerable renderings at floor spot level. Many will be aware of his poor health since the autumn of 2002 when an aneurysm nearly finished him off, but his has been a brave fightback helped in no small measure by a re-focusing on songwriting ("the only real refuge I've ever had anyway") with a vigour and passion that make this CD an utterly committed performance.

Harmony is Gordon's 20th album since 1966 and it's fair to say that since the mid-'70s, in much the same way as Tom Paxton, his material and delivery had become more safe, more pipe and slippers than angst and edge. That said, whilst many of his familiar themes are touched on - the natural world, people, places, love and loss - he still wields sufficient verbal precision to mark this out as a distinctive, impressive release which affords genuine pleasure.

An engrossing story teller, the spooky Flying Blind has as its subject an airman, his instruments useless, helplessly endeavouring to navigate the hazards of the great white North, whilst the gentle Couchiching celebrates his hometown of Orillia, Ontario in affectionate fashion.

The title track is a resigned piece of embracing self-knowledge and overall there's a dignity and a quiet stoicism that can only come when, as Richard Thompson would have it, you've got to the border. Thankfully fate turned Gordon Lightfoot back on this occasion to give him a renewed sense of purpose and to make Harmony the kind of record that earns an upgrade from mere 'enjoyable' to 'rated'.

Clive Pownceby - June 2004

07-20-2004, 02:57 PM	#1
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,001	http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/.../harmony.shtml GORDON LIGHTFOOT Harmony CNR Records 22 999062 If he'd done nothing else other than write Early Morning Rain and The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald, Gordon Lightfoot would have ensured his place in the infrastructure of the British Folk Club through innumerable renderings at floor spot level. Many will be aware of his poor health since the autumn of 2002 when an aneurysm nearly finished him off, but his has been a brave fightback helped in no small measure by a re-focusing on songwriting ("the only real refuge I've ever had anyway") with a vigour and passion that make this CD an utterly committed performance. Harmony is Gordon's 20th album since 1966 and it's fair to say that since the mid-'70s, in much the same way as Tom Paxton, his material and delivery had become more safe, more pipe and slippers than angst and edge. That said, whilst many of his familiar themes are touched on - the natural world, people, places, love and loss - he still wields sufficient verbal precision to mark this out as a distinctive, impressive release which affords genuine pleasure. An engrossing story teller, the spooky Flying Blind has as its subject an airman, his instruments useless, helplessly endeavouring to navigate the hazards of the great white North, whilst the gentle Couchiching celebrates his hometown of Orillia, Ontario in affectionate fashion. The title track is a resigned piece of embracing self-knowledge and overall there's a dignity and a quiet stoicism that can only come when, as Richard Thompson would have it, you've got to the border. Thankfully fate turned Gordon Lightfoot back on this occasion to give him a renewed sense of purpose and to make Harmony the kind of record that earns an upgrade from mere 'enjoyable' to 'rated'. Clive Pownceby - June 2004