Jim Payne, Empty Nets (SingSong, 1992)
On this recording, Payne sings and plays guitar, accordion, mandolin and whistle. He's joined by Christina Smith on fiddle, cello, harmonica, synthesizer and vocals, Fergus O'Byrne on banjo, bodhran, vocals and, um, auditorium chair, Lorne Taylor on bass, Howie Southwood on drums and percussion, and Anita Best and Glenn Downey on vocals. The music is all arranged, wholly or in part, by Payne, and several of the songs are his own compositions. As is often the case with Newfoundland music, the songs tell stories, and the stories are often sentimental. Payne's "Empty Nets," for instance, describes an ongoing crisis for local fishermen, while "Two Fishermen Missing" pulls its lyrics from the headlines of an event in 1984. "Always the Best Man" mourns a time when Payne apparently was always holding the ring for other men, never for himself, while "The West Side of Notre Dame Bay" explores his fondness for the land where he was raised. Newfoundland has proven to be a great source of new and traditional music that's rich in meaning, and Empty Nets provides nine tracks in that vein. Check out Jim Payne's work for a taste of the island's enduring culture. ![]() ![]() |
![]() Rambles.NET music review by Tom Knapp 19 December 2020 Agree? Disagree? Send us your opinions! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |