Thursday, March 10, 2016

Empty Train review in the Winnipeg Free Press

David Francey
Empty Train (Laker Music)
AYRSHIRE, Scotland’s David Francey has been a Canadian citizen most of his life, but the 61-year-old still sings with the thick brogue of his native country.
That’s a good thing, since his type of folky tale-telling and heartfelt insights benefit from his deep, dusty cadence. Francey plays no instruments himself here, leaving his band, the Handsome Soldiers, to deliver the tuneful, rootsy vibes. Mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and the occasional fiddle finesse avoid cliché and contour Francey’s graceful lyrics perfectly. Within this framework, the singer’s words lay out the kind of wisdom gained not only by living a conscious life, but having the skill to turn sincere emotion into song. Hospital tells the tale of a son watching his father barely exist while in care and the toll it takes on the whole family. Blue Girl details a tormented slog through the porn industry, while Crucible lifts unknown soldiers to prominence. Empty Train succeeds because  Francey writes the kind of songs driven by personal experiences, yet speak to the larger life truths of compassion and sincerity. Get aboard this train.

— Jeff Monk
Winnipeg Free Press