LUKE DE SCISCIO – Theo (Folk Boy Records)

TheoDespite the exoticness of his name, Luke De Sciscio is from Bath. And despite his tender years – he’s just 32 – he’s something of a veteran in the business with sixteen albums to his credit already plus any number of EPs and singles but this is the first time he’s come knocking at our door. And to his credit he kept on knocking until someone answered. Theo was inspired by the birth of his daughter and his new role as a father.

There is something of an under the radar feel about the record. The first track, ‘Two Headed Shadow’, begins with random noises which I take to be the sound of Luke settling down at the microphone and picking up what I take to be an electro-acoustic guitar. After the symbolism of the opener, we have the more direct ‘Daughter’ in which Luke describes his baby and tells her something of who she is. I had the idea that this was a tradition among ancient civilizations but I can’t find any reference to it. Kahil Gibran had something to say on the subject, though.

Insistent finger-picked guitar drives ‘Only A Woman’ and a gentle guitar reverb underpins ‘Spinning’ but sadly the lyrics to both songs are not clearly recorded – I’m a words man and, entertaining as the music may be, I want to hear and think about them. ‘7 Layers’ has a very strange opening: lo-fi recording noise and someone going on about Fanta but “the one you can only buy in American shops”. The song itself verges on “too much information” as Luke describes the birth of his daughter which I infer to be by Caesarean. It may be a magical moment for the father but, at least he acknowledges that it’s not so much fun for the mother – as I am reliably informed. The poetry is touching but I’m not sure that I want to intrude in this way.

Beautiful acoustic guitar opens ‘Milk And Blood’ – Luke’s finger-picking is one of the best features of Theo – and fortunately this song isn’t too visceral. It’s rather delightful, actually. ‘In This Twilight’ is, I think, a hymn to the goddess – again, I’d like the lyrics. ‘Sisyphus But Delicate’ references reality in that bringing up a child is an endless process which Luke likens to the punishment to Sisyphus in Greek mythology. It’s a very clever idea.

‘Towers Span People’ has an almost hypnotic guitar backing and has slightly mystical feel and ‘Deeply Religious, 18 And Pretty’, looking to his daughter’s future, sees Luke seems to be following a similar path. The closing ‘For The Poems’ has its feet on the ground again, at least for a while, as Luke describes his daughter’s hair and hands which thoughts pitch him back into a flight of fancy. It’s a really nice song.

Theo is clearly an important and deeply personal record for Luke. Its highs – the guitar work and the poetry – are high indeed but the lows… I have to say that I don’t like the lo-fi approach to the recording process and I find it rather distracting at times.

Dai Jeffries

Label website: www.folkboyrecords.com

‘Spinning’ – live:

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