Artist: Ferraby Lionheart

CD: Catch The Brass Ring

Label: Nettwerk (www.nettwerk.com)

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey

3 ½ Stars 

Ferraby Lionheart in name and musical styling sounds like a throwback to another era. I think we called the likes of Ferraby Lionheart ‘folk music’ in the 60s; possibly meaning that both yourself and your folks would enjoy listening, which is easily done in Lionhearts’ music. At times Catch The Brass Ring sounds romantic, but retiscent of a Benny & Joon type love, at times his songs sound melancholy but from the Woody Allen club of bemusing witticism. Basically, Catch The Brass Ring is a collection of folk style music, but sweet in an awkward and fragile way. 

The singing of these gentle songs seems amply unpolished and songs like ‘The Car Maker’ might possibly turn up on a film soundtrack that is critic approved but an indie-flick. Ferraby Lionheart, cool name aside, will be an artist that people will be drawn too because of his offbeat and unpolished music that can be inspiring and laid back at the same time. Oddly enough, Lionheart’s music reminds me of a balloon slowly floating out of a child’s hands and rising slowly into the sky, almost in slow-motion; their seems to be an understated beauty and meaningfulness to both the rising balloon and Catch The Brass Ring.   

1. Un Ballo Della Luna

2. Small Planet

3. Vermont Avenue

4. Call Me The Sea

5. The Car Maker

6. A Bell And Tumble

7. Under The Texas Sky

8. Youngest Frankenstein

9. Before We’re Dead

10. The Octopus And The Ambulance

11. Put Me In Your Play