JIM GHEDI - A Hymn For Ancient Land
Folk music, much like its rock and metal contemporaries, is at is best when it connects with the listener on an emotional level. When a composition can evoke memories, tap into the subconscious, and the listener can lose themselves in the moment; that's what makes for something more than just background noise. Jim Ghedi, a young Englishman recently signed to the also-young Basin Rock record label, understands this in a way unlike many of his age. His newest release, A Hymn For Ancient Land, is a rich tapestry of warm instrumentation that recalls sentiments as varied as childhood innocence, the harmony of nature in winter, and a sense of movement while staying rooted to a steady constant.
"Home For Moss Valley" is, as described by Ghedi, an ode to "a five mile stretch of ancient woodlands, rivers, moors and farms along the Yorkshire/Derbyshire border" near where he grew up. Over the course of the song - and the mostly vocal-less album - Ghedi paints a musical picture with a cinematic flair. Like the best composers, he arranges the strings and horns just so, not overpowering the lighter guitar and piano parts. The peaks and valleys of the song structure recall the ebb and flow of a stream, or a bird's-eye view of the snow-capped treeline.
When Ghedi does utilize his voice, it's a revelation. Mature but not deep, husky yet unencumbered by the trappings of age, it adds a layer of depth to "Phoenix Works" and his rearrangement of the traditional "Banks Of Mulroy Bay". The cadence recalls old sea shanties, a possible reflection of his English and Irish heritage; even inland, one is never far from the ports.
While A Hymn For Ancient Land employs plenty of traditional folk elements, it incorporates enough new ideas to keep listeners intrigued and interested. Classical and jazz have encountered similar artists that altered the landscape just enough to move forward; perhaps Jim Ghedi is moving into the same role.
A Hymn For Ancient Land will be released January 26. Preorders are on Bandcamp and at Basin Rock's website.
