Ferraby Lionheart: Catch The Brass Ring

The new album from Ferraby Lionheart could be mistaken for early recordings by Daniel Johnston. The opening track “Un Ballo Della Luna” is most likely a homemade recording as Lionheart saunters his way through the simple yet pretty track. Meanwhile, Lionheart does little roaring here, content to forge a sweet singer-songwriter brand of pop that is terribly difficult not to admire judging by “Small Planet” that brings to mind a cross between Neil Finn and Elliott Smith while “Call Me the Sea” has Lionheart hitting precious notes time and time again. Through it all, the singer’s knack for crafting enduring pop pearls is very evident as “The Car Maker” resembles a jazz-leaning, piano-centric Ron Sexsmith while “A Bell and Tumble” tumbles along effortlessly. Perhaps the sleeper on this impressive effort is “Youngest Frankenstein” which features Lionheart alone with his eccentric thoughts and a guitar. But the closing countrified “Put Me in Your Play” is another nugget. Lionheart has definitely nabbed the brass ring with this release.