Tom Portman: Daughter of the Willow Tree (2023)
By Kev Rowland
Tom Portman is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, recording artist and composer based in the west of Ireland. He specialises in guitar, Dobro, lap steel and other strings. With six solo albums to his name, Portman has been a consistent eclectic and prolific force in Irish music.
His work focuses on our relationships to each other and the natural world; exploring themes of place, mythology, the cycles of life and death and the emotional landscape of life. There’s a wide range to his work – from the Blues, Irish melodies, swing, rag time, classical, Indian ragas to rock n roll. His broad skill set along with an eclectic set of musical influences places him in a unique position as a performer, composer and recording artist.
On this album he is largely performing solo, providing vocals, guitars, violins and lap steel. There are some additional musicians, but this is very much his vision and his album. It is a release which becomes more compelling and captivating the more it is played.
There is a great deal of space within the music, which allows the listener to become fully immersed in what is taking place. It is a very ambient album, one where the notes and arrangements are allowed to breathe, resulting in something which is both gentle and deeply powerful.
Musically, this is a blend of country and western with modern English folk, and while that may sound like a simple description, the reality is something far more sophisticated and engaging. There is a real sense of gravitas within the songs, and they are designed to be listened to carefully and with intention.
This is an album which feels important. It is not background music, but something which demands attention and rewards it fully. It is a release which deserves to be heard by a much wider audience, particularly by those who appreciate wonderful acoustic music.
Highly recommended.
Rating: 9/10
Original article:
https://houseofprog.com/tom-portman-daughter-of-the-willow-tree-2023/
