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First Al Stewart, now David McWilliams: as much as I like to consider myself a free spirit who chooses what to listen to based on whims and little else, a "suggestion" from Marc Almond must always be taken seriously and carefully considered; it was his masterful rendition of "The Days Of Pearly Spencer" that introduced me to this Irish singer-songwriter, an artist evidently deemed minor, commercially known as a one-hit wonder and little more though, as often happens to me in these cases, personally I don't see him as inferior to any more celebrated name.
Listening to the songs offered in this collection, I can understand the reason for his limited fame: simple, introspective themes, and especially a heavy use of orchestral arrangements that many might consider outdated: nonsense I say, beautiful things are timeless, the elegance, depth, and expressiveness of David McWilliams transcend any discussion of fashion, technique, innovation, et cetera. A refined craftsman of the love song, capable of crafting memorable, ingenious, and highly effective pop-minuets like "For Josephine", "For A Little Girl", and "Marlena", the emotional drive of "Letter To My Love", and the impeccable singer-songwriter finesse of "I Love Susie In The Summer".
Love but also melancholy, David McWilliams handled this subject matter, which is sometimes ostentatiously exhibited with self-indulgent showboating, with a delicacy of a true master, pairing it with simple and catchy melodies, and a splendidly clear and reassuring voice, the kind you never tire of listening to. Melancholy is almost an indispensable element in David McWilliams' songwriting style, a bittersweet apostrophe between simple and sincere words; I think of songs like "Born To Ramble", "Harlem Lady", especially "Tomorrows Like Today", which doesn't even reach two minutes in length, with a light melody accompanied by a lively and cheeky flute, and is one of the most intense and moving songs I've ever heard.
"The Days Of Pearly Spencer", "Three O'clock Flamingo Street", and "Lady Helena Of The Laughing Eye", stories of bums, drunks, and prostitutes, nothing prophetic, nothing scholarly and seminal, just sincerity and true art. When he talks about war ("Hiroshima") or contemporary social dramas ("Redundancy Blues"), David McWilliams doesn't offer booming allusions and metaphors, does not pose as a judge and prophet, he simply tells stories, with efficacy, involvement, and above all extraordinary humanity, that is his greatness and probably also why he has been forgotten in the folds of time.
Of the twenty-two songs offered in this collection, including a brilliant cover of "Brown-Eyed Girl" by fellow countryman Van Morrison, excellently adapted to his orchestrated and personal style, not only is there not a single bad one, but each of them leaves something inside, a melody, a memory, a reflection, a smile. Listing them all would be cumbersome and inelegant, I can only close by highly recommending a listen to this underrated and wonderful artist, it will be an exciting and also educational experience, to discover sounds from another era and above all the more humble and gentle side of singer-songwriting.
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