Ramble by Steve Folk

Ramble: Definition:

1. Walk for pleasure, typically without a definite route
2. Talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way.

The Album Ramble is as much about the love of the written word as it is for the love of travel, nature and diversity. It covers the concept of "place" - from cities across the globe to the idea of a "place" in society and employment.

The Album will take you on a journey (should you let it), with the order of the tracks carefully selected to take you through different themes,
The song "I Like The Birds" is a whimsical and light hearted start to the album, which introduces Steven's love for language; but it mainly suggests his love for nature and wildlife and a polite and humorous disregard for the human race, which is also displayed by the presence of his cat on the front of the album sleeve and his own portrait modestly situated on the back.

The next 3 songs "No Net Curtains in New York", "Old Grey London" and "Amsterdam" are songs which share different relationships with different cities, "No Net Curtains in New York" is specifically based on a scene from the film "Frankie and Johnny", Frankie (Michelle Pffiefer) looks from her window (curtain free) to that of a woman who is beaten by her husband, later in the film she sees the husband arrive home to empty wardrobes, a message of courage and hope reflected in the final verse. "Old Grey London" is a love song, a troubled romance between the artist and his city, the city is "fat and old" but the love won't die easily, a true love/hate relationship, this song is sang with real affection. "Amsterdam" is an honest pen-driven reaction to an experience with a new city, bursting with positivity and respect, the lyrics are literally thrown from the heart and out of the mouth towards the listener, with pace and without compromise.

The next 2 songs "Farm" and "360" reinstates the artists love for nature, the song "Farm" (with guest vocals from Josienne Clarke and Melodeon from Nick Cooke) is a heartbreaking story of an unreachable goal, possibly through debt or lack of courage, it isn't without hope, as the last lyric "the farm that we MAY have" suggests. "360" is a strong lyric based song which encourages you (the listener) to enjoy the natural world by leaving the office, finding a hill and turning round "do a 360" with wide open eyes, it is what first inspired Steven to name the album "Ramble".

"Littlehampton" and "Arundel Castle" are nostalgic and personal accounts of the artists younger years, there is an obvious strong bond between the artist and his home town, with an effortless reach into the memories of a dedicated seaside town individual, these songs also allow the listener to reflect on they're own memories specifically those of childhood and long lost places.

"Dust" is a window into the artists "loose fitting" mind with the listener being asked "What should I sing about?" but also suggesting that the artist can/will write about anything he desires, it is a very personal and poetic song with a light and playful feel.

The songs "Money Year" and "Canary" cover the theme of wealth and class, "Money Year" is a tale of financial woe and material desire with a sudden realisation that money can't buy love, one of life's true clichés, this song is particularly sad in sentiment and the hammond keyboard at the end of the song shines through. The last song on the album "Canary" is based on those men and women who are desperate to succeed in working life, specifically the city workers who crave to reach to the top of the ladder, the repeating chorus indicating that there is no end to they're desires and wants, the last voice on the album is guest singer Josienne Clarke singing "One more year I'll have no more rungs to climb", a brave an courageous way to end an album.

This album is a journey in many respects, it is music but it is also poetry and art. It is a very considered collection of " modern descriptive folk" songs with an "english countryesque" feel.

stevefolk.com