She proves to be a great addition to an already brilliant song with its focus on the vocals. ‘You And I’ introduces the first of the musical guests on this album, Bonnie Raitt, who provides backing vocals on this song.
Due to its rawness I have continued to come back to the song as Foy Cries “Well I tried to do what I felt was right/ And I know I f****d it up sometimes/ But At Least My Heart Was Open/ You’re the one that crossed the line.” The layered harmonies and contrasts give it an even greater emotional depth to the listener. The third track however talks about the difficult breakup of a relationship at the end of last year (as he announced during his UK concerts in March). ‘At Least My Heart Was Open’ is a change of direction in the album from the previous 2 songs which talk about Foy’s move and life in Scotland.
It shows off Foy’s incredible range and cements itself as one of the many brilliant tracks on this album. Using the same piano chord throughout the verses the “Joy of Nothing band”, (Michael Keeney, Colin McClean, Paul Hamilton and Conor McCreanor), add to the arrangement and put their stamp on the album from the outset. Title and lead track “Joy of Nothing” proved to grow on me as time has passed. Foy with his usual flawless soul sings “The scenery’s changing, and it warms my soul, I’m 200 miles down but a long way yet to go.” This song is admittedly about his relocation but I can’t help but see the parallels between this and his journey in his wider life. He has grown a rather impressive piece of facial hair on his upper lip, he is now signed to major label Glassnote Records (Home to Mumford and Sons, Daughter, Little Green Cars, Two Door Cinema Club, etc) and he has also experienced a lot of new found success thanks to a fan turned mega star (Ed Sheeran) who brought him on his UK and US tours in 2012/13, as well as touring with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, David Gray, Marcus Foster and Michael Kiwanuka. Knowing all of this I nervously slip the Cd into the player in preparation to discover how Foy Vance handled the often “difficult 2 nd album.”Īs I hear the first Piano Chords of ‘Closed Hand Full Of Friends’ any concern I had was laid to rest. A lot has changed in the 6 years since debut album Hope for Mr Vance: Geographically he relocated to the highlands of Scotland last year after living in London.
Like many Foy fans I have been waiting for this new record not for months, but for years. It’s 11am and Foy Vance’s new album Joy of Nothing has made its presence known as it hits the floor on the other side of our front door.
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