Manchester-based six-piece Table are led by songwriter David O’Dowda, who combs together different strands of modern folk music to create something new and wonderful on this, their first seven-inch titled ‘Songs You Can Sing’. A record so strong it takes two labels, Humble Soul and Static Caravan to give it the full time partner it requires.
The two tracks on this single are sumptuous delights, airy and ornate while being oddly familiar. Marshalled by David, Table waltz through quietly elegant folk-pop with minimal guitar, stately piano and low-key vocals on what sounds like an endearingly sweet single, despite the deceptively barbed tale woven throughout.If ‘Songs You Can Sing’ is beguilingly understated, then ‘ Most’ is multi-layered and bursting with ideas where electronic and organic sounds collide. It’s a many hued delight which pulls together disparate elements and twists them into a myriad shapes, blurring excitedly before sweeping to a beautiful climax. Music that reaches into you and pulls out your soul, personal and frankly as dangerous as it is fragile. Imagine East River Pipe covering a Richard Hawley penned lullaby and you’ll have a good idea of what to expect.
Not to be confused with that bloke from The IT Crowd (that’s Chris O’Dowd – factual ed), David has supported Peter Gabriel – while playing with Sizer Barker (others members are now Wave Machines) – and appeared on radio with Elbow’s Guy Garvey who says “‘Songs You Can Sing’ is one of those songs that you will want to play to your friends, because it makes you look cool…”.
To coincide with the release of the single, a session on Marc Riley’s 6Music show was booked on the strength of the only burn circulated at that time, once again showing how far ahead of the game Riley is nowadays.
Both tracks mastered by George Atkins @ 80 Hertz. It’s available here from Humble Soul Records.
[vimeo width=”580″ height=”425″]https://www.vimeo.com/8894466[/vimeo]
