Tour de Force

Ray LaMontagne with David Ford. At the Lobero Theatre,
Saturday, November 11.

Reviewed by Brett Leigh Dicks

When it comes to musical projection,
Englishman David Ford is unrelenting. Be it in voice or
instrumentation, Ford literally throws everything he has into his
music. A song like “I Don’t Care What You Call Me” might start off
with resignation to romantic fate, but the tone of the song
casually builds into an affirmation of defiance. A harmonica wails
and Ford ardently belts out the same chorus that not so long ago
floated in fragile beauty.

While emotional containment propelled the former, it was
instrumental theatrics that conveyed the temper of “State of the
Nation.” A simple guitar line was recorded and looped. Another
guitar line was then added along with a dose of shakers. Sliding
from instrument to instrument, even a bang of his guitar became
entrenched within Ford’s evolving soundscape. It might well be an
extroverted musical display, but Ford perfectly tempers his
enthusiasm and never allows it to become overly indulgent.