Findlay Napier never stops working. Solo albums, guest appearances, collaborations and projects, including a particularly fine album. The Ledger (https://folking.com/findlay-napier-gillian-frame-with-mike-vass-the-ledger-cheery-008/) have filled the last decade. Now he returns with Outsider, a collection of accumulated songs. Outsider is also the first release by The Bothy Society to combine a CD and a coffee table book, which in our case we do not have. The book contains all kinds of background information but is also very expensive and it does mean that the CD contains the bare minimum of information.
So here we are with the fundamental Findlay, encompassing a range of styles and, believe me, Findlay has worked a lot of styles in his long career. The opener, ‘Running The Light’, is a prime slice of country-rock built on a chugging guitar and decorated by Neill MacColl’s electric guitar. Oh, yes, Findlay has a mighty supporting band including Angus Lyon, Gillian Frame and Chris Pepper all held together by Boo Hewerdine’s production.
In contrast next is ‘Silver Service’, an acoustic piss-take of posh dos and I can’t help but think that Findlay has worked tables at some time in his life. He knows too much to make it all up. The title track, co-written with Hewerdine, is a rockabilly style admission of his position in life. Outside seems to be a good place to be. The gently acoustic ‘Call Me If You Need Me’ is a heartfelt offer of help with a Beatleish tinge – hints of ‘Across The Universe’ in there – while ‘Oh Amy’, another Hewerdine co-write, is a lazy shuffle with more MacColl guitar.
We now come to a section of Findlay’s more left-field songs beginning with ‘Fidel Castro Five Years Gone’ which hides a serious point followed by more rock’n’roll with ‘An Extensive List Of Lost Things’. ‘Inky Fingers’ is a memoir of schooldays and ‘The Greatest Of All Time’ is a wish-fulfilment dream even for a man “pushing fifty”. ‘Amberola Blue’ is a pretty tribute to Thomas Edison’s cylinder phonograph (I looked it up so you don’t have to). ‘Stamp Your Feet’ doesn’t sound like its title suggests and finally ‘Hey There Stranger’, co-written with Max O’Connor, is a gentle, reflective closer.
Like all Findlay’s music, Outsider will steal into your life. There are some fine songs here with lyrics that are worth taking your time over.
Dai Jeffries
Label website: www.thebothysociety.com
‘Running The Light’ – official video:
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