David Francey

He sings deceptively simple songs with a thick Scottish accent, using almost exclusively Canadian landscapes. Like country blues legend Mississippi John Hurt, David Francey doesn't make music for a living (he's a carpenter), and he writes in a direct, snapshot style. And, like Hurt, his folk-based songs ought to be played 100 years from now - he's that good. "Paper Boy," the album's opener, is a sweet, autobiographical sketch of his youth, while "Mill Towns," the next track, is a powerful commentary about the mining and mill towns of Ontario. Mike Ford and David Matheson (Moxy Fruvous) proceed to sing harmonies behind the poetic love song "Banks of the Seaway," one of several tunes set in his residence of Ayer's Cliff, PQ. Francey's other 12 songs guide us through Saskatchewan, Peterborough and Montreal, but tell primarily stories about travel, work and love. Accompanied by his acoustic guitar, and the occasional bass, fiddle and banjo, Francey's craft is consistent and economical. Any attentive listener ought to be rewarded with subtle detail and unforgettable melodies.