Candythief are a band hailing from Fife, and this, their first long player is very good indeed. Diana de Cabarrus is a singer/songwriter who has produced a cleverly crafted album which takes in elements of Gypsy folk, rock and jazz. The album gets off to a great start with ‘Foreign Sands’ a folk tinged, stylish and well-written lament “You are lining your nest, the feathers that I gave you. When you lie down to rest, you soon forget how I saved you”.
‘Entente Cordiale’ which immediately follows it is equally good, having elements of Gypsy jazz and classic Chanson and sung almost entirely in French, save for the wonderfully bitter interlude “When I let you screw me just to keep the peace, it was a point of no return”. Marvellous!
Other high points on the album, for me are ‘Maria’, a jangly electric folk number that tells a “story that will make your blood run cold” and relates the tale of a young woman and her greedy young brother who is the favoured child and pushed his sister down the stairs to her death, which was then recorded as a “tragic mistake” This tale is set in a hot Summer and features very cleverly crafted and evocative lyrics.
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‘Dry Land’ which musically appears to start somewhere from the Brecht/Weill stable before merging seamlessly into a whimsical psychedelic chorus that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd album. Once again the lyrics are a strong point “The Sun span wildly round the sky, in a fevered burst of pride” and set the scene so well.
‘Lost and Found is a soaring instrumental soundscape that is beguiling (in the charming sense), and hauntingly beautiful, leaving you wanting more.
The only song that I didn’t take to was ‘Ghosts at the Feast’, which at over eight minutes long and ending with about three minutes of rock guitar feedback, clearly outstayed its welcome and kept me reaching for the fast forward button.
Overall, this album has far more highs than lows, and is something that I will happily play again, and I certainly look forward to the next one.
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