From: Pete Fyfe
[petefyfe_at_aol_dot_com]
Sent: 17 June 2012 04:50
Subject: Pete Fyfe: Marvin Welch
& Farrar
Attachments: Marvin Welch &
Farrar.jpg
MARVIN WELCH & FARRAR -
Marvin, Welch & Farrar/Second Opinion (Beat Goes On BGOCD714)
How do you carry the burden of
being so well established because of another vehicle (in this case The Shadows)
that anything else you try pales into insignificance?at least in the eyes of a
majority of the general public? Such was the case of Marvin, Welch &
Farrar. Well, part of it may have had to do with the fact that they turned from
electric gods into acoustic weaklings but, for me at least that's where a lot
of their charm lay. OK, so the comparisons to Crosby, Stills & Nash are
inevitable (MW&F even said so themselves) and to some lesser extent the
band America but if you give it a chance, particularly in 2012 where ?acoustic'
music is being heralded as the second coming there may hopefully be reawakened
interest. Now, far be it for me to be critical but I'm not sure about the
opening track "You're Burning Bridges" which apparently met with approval from
more knowledgeable scribes than me but the intonation on the nylon strung
guitar is what might politely be described as being a bit dodgy. The second
track "A Thousand Conversations" however is a different kettle of fish with its
gently picked 12-string introduction and seductive string arrangement which
wouldn't sound out of place on a BBC Radio 2 show. Collectively Hank Marvin,
Bruce Welch and John Farrar could rock it out when they needed to as can be
witnessed on "Throw Down A Line" and surely a contender alongside the likes of
the Goo-Goo Dolls for a Hollywood soundtrack. I just knew when I got this album
I was going to be in for a treat little realising just how much of a treat it
really turned out to be?a bit like getting the purple wrapped chocolate in a
box of Quality Street. If you're into a slice of country-rock or just into
great harmonies and guitar performances then may I humbly suggest you start
here. www.bgo-records.com
PETE FYFE