Phillip Henry – True North
Dragonfly Roots – 5 October 2018
Phillip Henry is a slide guitar disciple best known for his work with Hannah Martin in their Edgelarks duo. His new solo album is a remarkable thing indeed, a singular amalgamation of tunes collected while on a decade-long exploration of and with slide guitars. Learning from teachers and experiences to channel the unique sound of guitar phrasing being elongated and manipulated by metal, glass or ceramic sliding along steel strings, and its power and depth as a solo instrument. Aside from a touch of foot percussion and a cleverly employed hand fan drone device on one track, this is a purely solo album. It was recorded live with no fiddling, a wise decision that contributes to the overall flavour and cohesion of the tunes.
True North states its calm intent from the off, with a gently played version of Tim Edey’s lovely ‘Little Bird’ song, before the Dobro is replaced by a National steel guitar for a wonderful medley of two tunes learned in Canada, ‘She’s like a Swallow’ and ‘Sweet Reunion’, collected as ‘The Road to Torfino’. The refrain running through this one is stunning in its simplicity and patience, and it is a song that will not be hurried into finding its main melody line, which makes the core tune all the more potent when it comes in after a minute or so. On a band album, it would be when another instrument kicks in to add drama, but the only adornment audible here (apart from that little foot tap) is the natural reverb that comes from the steel resonator guitar. That purity in the tune adds more gravitas to it and gives the sense of a musician absolutely confident in his ability to leave everything but the essentials out of this project. That’s not to say there isn’t deliberately speedy and diamond fingered playing here; the notes added to the bars of ‘Domino Road’ feel in no way jarring, but they add spice and a little bit of a glint to a mostly understated performance.
And also, it turns out that Phillip’s voice, not often heard, is another essential instrument on several tracks. His softly pronounced singing balances the calming nature of the playing without a hint of abruptness, which could easily have disrupted some of the more delicate playing. In fact, so well does voice merge with the Dobro on ‘True North’ that at points it sounds like a spectral backing singer at the fringe of the microphone’s range. Elsewhere, ‘Keep Saying Hello’ immediately brings to mind Gillian Welch’s ‘Time (the Revelator)’, with its slightly abrupt introduction that quickly slides into a slickly finger-picked line somehow also not dissimilar to Dave Rawlings’ playing on the same song, with its sometimes generously spaced notes. The lyrics, written by Steve Lyons, are gorgeous, with Phillip’s voice carrying the right level of sadness and the Dobro coming to life at just the right points, like the beautifully paced and absorbing instrumental finishing the track.
For something completely different, Phillip brings his Chaturangui, a twenty-two string lap acoustic instrument he learned from teacher Debashish, into the mix for three tracks, the first being ‘O’Carolan’s Welcome’, a piece for Irish harp. This is one of my favourite tunes, and the first time I heard it was Gerry Carthy playing it solo on acoustic tenor guitar and it’s fascinating to hear the textures and luxurious padding this wonderful Indian instrument brings while maintaining the spirit and framework of the melody at the centre. From here, however, Henry whisks us away to the deep South, with ‘I Can’t Keep from Crying Sometimes’, a Blind Willie Johnson tune played higher, with the Dobro capoed at the fifth fret, which is joined with the totally unexpected ‘Not Over Yet’, a nineties dance tune we’ve all heard, but here given a blues makeover that sounds nuts, but makes perfect sense when you hear it.
Before the final Chaturangui medley, the beautifully simple acoustic sound of the Weissenborn comes in to form for a duet with Henry’s voice for a version of Tim O’Brien’s ‘Brother Wind’. Unlike the Dobro or steel resonator guitar, the Weissenborn is a very ‘wooden’ sounding instrument, with no natural reverb, and the pairing does the wonderful lyrics justice; the playing here is nonintrusive and clean and nicely offsets the finale. ‘Reverence Revisited’ is Henry’s Raga Yaman inspired piece, and here the restraint in the playing and space between notes is skilful and a joy to hear. This piece alongside ‘Kaylan Variations’ forms the highlight of the set for me, with the calming magic of pure instrumental music perfectly realised. The range of the instrument also gives these final tunes real depth, with bass notes trading with piano-like chimes in places, as this patient work ebbs and flows and weaves its layers around the ear. It is an elated and uplifting end that defines a remarkable set.
This beautiful, spiritual journey of an album finds Phillip Henry fully living up to the accolades that have and will continue to be thrown his way. True North is a passion project and a lesson in minimalism and focus through music without a note wasted throughout the set; it is indeed the sound of a virtuoso and a master of his instrument, displaying innate and gathered techniques. Just make sure you get the hard copy with the liner notes that add even more richness to the tunes; they complete an absolutely splendid recording of uncommonly deep and textured music that feels unique and is utterly spellbinding throughout.
True North is released today. Order it here: https://philliphenryhannahmartin.bandcamp.com/album/true-north
Phil is launching True North this autumn with a string of dates and workshops (for these, places are limited and tickets are going fast already).
TRUE NORTH TOUR DATES
OCTOBER
25th – Exeter, Phoenix +workshop
www.exeterphoenix.org.uk / 01392 667080
26th – Woodmancote Village Hall
www.wegottickets.com/smedsongs / 07970 078220
27th – Tuppenny Barn, Southbourne
www.tuppennybarn.co.uk/musicthebarn/ / 01243 377780
28th – Chettle Village Hall, nr Blandford Forum
http://chettlemusic.co.uk/home/philip-henry/ / 07776 323198
NOVEMBER
1st – Barber Rooms, Faringdon, Oxfordshire
www.wegottickets.com/event/438100
2nd – Cambridge Folk Club +workshop
www.cambridgefolkclub.org 01638 603986
3rd – Calstock Arts, Cornwall
http://calstockarts.org/ / 01726 879500
7th – Cecil Sharp House, London +workshop
https://uk.patronbase.com/_CecilSharpHouse/Productions / 0207 485 2206
8th – Upwood Village Hall, nr. Huntingdon +workshop
pndmcleod@btinternet.com / 01487 814114
9th – Kitchen Garden Cafe, Kings Heath, Birmingham
www.wegottickets.com/kitchengardenevents / 0121 4434725
10th – The Old Refreshment Room, Wrington, Somerset
www.facebook.com/theoldrefreshmentroom/ / info@theoldrefreshmentroom.co.uk / 07429 005512
11th – Folk House, Bristol
www.bristolfolkhouse.co.uk/live-music/event/phillip-henry / 0117 926 2987
15th – Chapel Arts, Bath
https://chapelarts.org/ / 01225 463362
16th – West Kirby Arts +workshop
http://westkirbyartscentre.org.uk/ / 07484 537502
17th – Willow Gallery, Oswestry +workshop
http://www.willowgalleryoswestry.org/ / 01691 657575
http://www.philliphenryandhannahmartin.co.uk/