2009 | Falling Mountain Music

Fond Desire Farewell was arranged and produced by Dave Mattacks, who is best known for his work with the English folk-rock band Fairport Convention. Built on a theme of transformation through devastation, Fond Desire Farewell contains contemporary songs written by Richard Thompson, Bill Caddick, Nic Jones, Steve Tilston, and Ralph Stanley. Ray Davie’s “Alcohol” has become a favorite among listeners as has Chris Moore’s “Wall of Stone”. The traditional songs in this recording reflect Debra’s extensive research of North American and British Isles ballad collections. Fond Desire Farewell was named “CD of the Week” by Rich Warren, host of WFMT’s “The Midnight Special”. Singer Linda Thompson said “…this is my kind of record. Beautifully sung and superbly produced.”

Dave “DM” Mattacks is one of the most sought-after drummers in both the United Kingdom and America. With Fond Desire Farewell, Mattacks makes his debut as the exclusive arranger and producer of Debra Cowan’s third solo album, her first with a full band. His 40-plus years of experience in live performance and his impressive studio credits are evident in this recording. Mattacks has achieved a soundscape where Cowan’s voice is related and responded to rather than just complemented or supported. In addition to himself behind the drum kit, as well as on hammered dulcimer, piano, and organ, Mattacks has assembled some of the best musicians that grace Boston’s music scene: Duke Levine on guitar and mandola, Marty Ballou on upright bass, Joyce Anderson on violin, Billy Novick on clarinet, and Mike Barry supplying additional vocals.

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Fond Desire Farewell is dedicated to Debra’s late brother Michael Strassman, who died suddenly during its production. In her dedication, Debra states that a connection she shared with her brother included a number of groups that Mattacks had been affiliated with. She goes on: “After Michael’s death, Dave and I began preparing these songs for recording. As we progressed, I was finding that they became more meaningful. Studying each song, the realization came to me that there were bits of Michael’s 47 years in the stories that were being told. It’s been a year since we said goodbye to my brother and I can say with certainty that this recording project was a large part of my healing.”

Details

Technical

• Arranged and produced by Dave Mattacks.
• “Jealous Words” arranged and produced by Mike Barry and Dave Mattacks.
• Engineered and Recorded by Mike Barry at Babyland Studios, Medford, MA http://babylandstudio.com
• Foundation tracks (except “Wall…”, “Jealous…”, “Cruel…”, “Lili…” and “Salisbury…”) engineered and recorded by David J. Minehan at Woolly Mammoth Studios, Waltham, MA http://woollymammothsound.net.
• Mixed by Huck Bennert http://huckbennert.com.
• Mastered by Marc Donahue at Sound Mirror, Jamaica Plain, MA http://soundmirror.com.
• Graphic design and layout: George Striker http://area-5-one.com.

Musicians

• Debra Cowan: Vocals, Acoustic guitar on “Wall…” “Night Owl…” “Salisbury…”, English Concertina on “Rainbow”, “Night Owl”
• Dave Mattacks: Drums, Cymbals, Percussion, Piano, Pump Organ, Hammered Dulcimer, Wurlitzer Piano, Toy Piano
• Duke Levine: Acoustic Guitar, Mandola, National Guitar, Octave Mandolin
• Marty Ballou: Upright Bass
• Joyce Andersen: Fiddle

With:

• Billy Novick: Clarinet and Wolf Ginandes:Tuba on “Alcohol”
• Mike Barry: Additional vocals on “Rainbow”, “Lili…” and “Yon Green Valley”
• Ruth Peterson, Mike and Julie Barry on “Darkest Hour…”
• Mike, Julie and Liam Barry on “Lili…”

Press

Ranked in the Top 50 on Folk DJ-L for April and May 2009. “Ruins By the Shore” named New Release Top Track for May 5 -11, 2009 on “The Village”, XM Radio.

Read a review in The Green Man Review.

“Debra has a voice which beautifully combines Celtic and Appalachian sensibilities. She and Dave Mattacks have created a deeply satisfying, lyrical and musically elegant record.” Roseanne Cash, singer and songwriter

“…a wonderful voice and the production is great – unobtrusive and yet full…” Mike Harding, host “Folk and Acoustic” BBC Radio 2

“A great selection of songs, sensitively sung, with brilliant production work by Dave Mattacks. A gem of a CD” Simon Nicol, Fairport Convention

“…this is my kind of record. Beautifully sung and superbly produced.” Linda Thompson, singer

“It sounds really good indeed – you’ve done me proud so y’ave” Steve Tilston, composer, The Night Owl Homeward Turns

“Simply superb!” Clive Pownceby, Organiser, Bothy Folk Club, Southport, UK

“Well done to all concerned, it’s a lovely album indeed with a great choice of material, and excellent notes” Len Holton, host, From Albion and Beyond, KUAR, Little Rock, AR

“…..beautiful CD arrived today, and I am just now listening and enjoying it…….a delightful experience.” Menachem Vinegrad, Radio Upper Galilee, Katzrin, Israel

About the songs

Download a copy of the booklet (PDF).

Yon Green Valley (traditional-from the singing of Chris Coe)
Collected in 1952 by Patrick Shuldham-Shaw from a retired sailor in Shetland, this song appears in the published collections of Peter Kennedy, Helen Creighton and Grieg-Duncan. I love the positive outlook of the young lady and particularly her parting shot: “A contented mind bears no slavery”.

Wall Of Stone (© Chris Moore)
One winter’s night I went to hear the band “Rust Farm” at Tir Na Nog in Somerville, MA. I loved their sound and purchased their CD “Snows of March”. “Wall of Stone” stands out for its ominous message juxtaposed against a jaunty tune. Thanks, Chris.

Jealous Words (© Richard Thompson)
The great thing about Richard Thompson’s songs are the many levels that can be found in his lyrics. Thanks to Gordon Campbell of Miglo Records in Auchtermuchty, Scotland for suggesting I record this song.

Ruins By The Shore (© Nic Jones)
On one of my UK tours, a recording of Nic Jones’ brilliant guitar work and singing kept me company on many of the drives. When I first heard “Ruins”, I was drawn in and decided that I had to learn this wonderful anthem of our times.

The Rainbow (traditional-from the singing of Swan Arcade)
Collected from George Orton of Barrow-on-Humber by Percy Grainger, this is a wonderful song about how a woman takes charge and wins the day. A large nod to the trio Swan Arcade- Jim Boyes, the late Dave Brady and Heather Brady- for providing the inspiration that gave us this version.

The Night Owl Homeward Turns (© Steve Tilston)
Steve composed this song about the Norsemen’s first ventures to England’s shores, but I believe that the song’s subject matter is timeless.

Cruel Was My Father (traditional)
I had learned a version of this called “In the Month of January” that was collected by Peter Kennedy from Sarah Makem. To me, Makem’s tune was always hauntingly beautiful, but the story never quite made sense. Many years later I found another version of the song in the Helen Hartness Flanders Collection, sung by Mrs. Christine Henry of Providence, RI. We decided to put Mrs. Henry’s lyrics to Mrs. Makem’s tune to give this sad tale a setting that befits it.

Lili Marlene Walks Away (© Bill Caddick)
Bill Caddick’s songs have been on my radar ever since I heard June Tabor’s renditions of “Barmaid’s Song” and “Unicorns”. I heard “Lili” a few years ago and was struck again by Bill’s imagery in the lyrics and the melody he composed.

Salisbury Plain (traditional-from the singing of A.L. Lloyd)
Collected by Ralph Vaughn Williams in 1904, this song appears in the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, co-authored by Lloyd and RVW.

The Snow Is On The Ground (Traditional-From the singing of Jeff Warner)
Collected from Eleazer Tillett by Jeff’s parents, Anne and Frank Warner, this song conveys to me that special beauty that only winter can bring. In Tillett’s version, the second line reads “And the birds is all dropped from the trees”. We decided to go back to the song titled “Remember the Poor” from the Forget Me Not Songster for the original lyric. Other changes made in the lyrics came from another version of the song performed by the New England-based quartet Nowell Sing We Clear.

Alcohol (© Ray Davies)
As a kid listening to top 40 radio, I loved the Kinks’ popular songs. In my first year at college, I heard another Davies masterpiece, “Skin and Bones” and decided to buy one of their records. I couldn’t recall the name of the album and ended up with a copy of Muswell Hillbillies. It continues to be one of my favorite recordings.

The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn (© Ralph Stanley)
The Stanley Brothers created some of the best songs to come out of the beginnings of what is now known as bluegrass music. I think that some of the most beautiful songs are from the American gospel tradition and “Darkest Hour” is no exception.

Naked Rainbow (traditional)

Thanks!

Debra would like to thank:

• First and foremost, DM for his friendship, experience, and incredible knowledge that he brought to this project. Without his guidance, this recording could not have happened and I am really glad that I asked him to produce.
• Mike Barry, a new friend and to whom I am eternally indebted.
• All the musicians who went over and above in providing fantastic tracks for me to sing with
• Mike, Julie and Liam Barry for their work and contributions to the “Great Tilston Lobstah Feed”
• Buffie Groves who was there when I needed her most; a true Sister of Mercy.
• Nigel and Christine Schofield
• Pete and Gini Smith; Pete, whose partnership on the UK ’08 Tour gave these songs life in performance; Gini who went over and above to make this American feel right at home
• Ken Batts, Harvey and Judith Strassman, Bacca Pipes Folk Club (Keighley, UK), Gordon J. Campbell of Miglo Records, Scotland and the rest of my friends and family for their generous support
• Kev for everything

Dave thanks:

• Debra for asking me to do this CD, singing/playing so great and being a wonderful like {and open} minded soul
• Caron (always)
• Joyce, Marty, Duke – and Wolf, Billy, Julie, Liam & Ruth for simply being the top-est
• Dave Minehan, Marc Donahue and (extra ripple, please) Huck Bennert for “ears plus”
• Zildjian, Yamaha, Evans, Pro-Mark and LP for fab gear and fab people
• Mason Daring for the loan of the Hammer Dulcimer
• Milt Reder for the loan of the Toy Piano (just the one augmented chord, mind you)
• And last but not least, Mike Barry for just about everything else – and how incredibly well he delivered it.