Malcolm MacWatt – Dark Harvest
A hearty mix of Americana with British folklore is the wellspring of Scottish singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Malcolm MacWatt’s musical explorations. At times some obvious melodic sweeps from an era that gave us John Martyn, John Renbourn, Bert Jansch, Richard Thompson & Paul Hyde. Not as somber & dark as Nick Drake but there are reminisces of artists like Dave Cousins (Strawbs), Clive Gregson & even Gerry Rafferty.
Malcolm digs up his tales from the shady side of history, with underlying themes of politics & personal beliefs, with some ounces of violence & oppression. But Malcolm decorates each with lovely melodies, delicious backup singers & distinctive instrumentation. No apologies. This is what keeps the brandy sippers & skirt chasers in check. The 14 flavorful tunes from Dark Harvest (Drops Jan. 26–Need To Know Music/Gokuhi/Singular Recordings/60:00) were produced by Malcolm with Brian Brinkerhoff.
The pensive tonality is magical on songs like “Empire In Me,” which features Angeline Morrison. Their voices together are warm along with the banjo accompaniment & its darkness maintains a safe distance. On the remarkable “Out On the Western Plain,” the Scottish singer manages to maintain an ounce of old-world folksiness from the British Isles & incorporates it in a genuine old-west cowboy-type arrangement. Interesting.
The majority of songs are little, short stories narrated more than sung. The spare arrangement never leaves out any of the drama required to carry the tune. These will place derrieres on the edges of chairs in pubs. Enough to stop any billiard game, dart throwing, or pulling the tap for more ale. “Brave David Tyrie” & “Buffalo Thunder” are exceptional in this way.
These are the threads that tie together a contemporary folk artist who draws upon tradition & heritage to reflect life as it is today. Dark Harvest is enlightening.
Highlights – “Red River Woman,” “Empire In Me,” “Dark Harvest,” “Out On the Western Plain,” “Brave David Tyrie,” “The Nightjar’s Fall From Grace,” “Buffalo Thunder,” “She Told Me Not To Go” & “Semi Scotsman.”
Add’l Musicians – Nathan Bell (guitars & spoken word), Pat McManus (electric guitar), Phil Dearling (piano/electric guitar), Dave Martin (Bodhran), Ian MacWatt (snare drum), Gillian MacWatt (Ceilidh fiddle) & Shannon Hynes (backing vocals).
B&W image courtesy of Malcolm’s website. A lyrical insert is enclosed. It’s a 6-panel die-cut fold-out tray with dark images but the music has its reflective qualities. CD & 2 song samples available @ https://malcolmmacwatt.bandcamp.com/album/dark-harvest & https://www.malcolmmacwatt.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Malcom MacWatt’s Skail Connects Scottish Emigration to Root Music
