RANDALL WILLIAMS: Praying for Land

Randall Williams

Praying for Land

© 2008 Musafir Music (733792777224)

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Thoughtful acoustic with just a bit of edge: real people, real lives.

notes

“Randall has lived some amazing adventures. In ‘Praying for Land,’ we can feel his bold heart calling us all to follow our dreams.” – David Wilcox

Randall’s sophomore radio release is the strongest yet, and without question the most deeply nuanced. “Praying for Land” was produced by David Weber (Carrie Newcomer, Krista Detor) and features vocalist Krista Detor, percussionist Laura Cerulli (Disappear Fear, Cerulean Groove,) Slats Klug on keys and Jack Helsley on bass. From the title track to the haunting “Causeway” by Irish writer Daithi Rua, “Praying for Land” is well-written and tastefully arranged.



Two hours after informing his voice teacher that he was leaving the world of classical music, Randall Williams graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Mons, Belgium at the head of his class.

He felt that classical music lacked the inclusiveness of folk music, and that the inevitable division between performer and audience was unbearable. And so Randall returned to the world of traveling with his guitar, writing songs in train stations and sleeping on couches, then singing and playing on street corners, cafés, and pubs. For a time he lived aboard a 20’ sailboat that he bought for $800, teaching himself how to sail by single-handing through the Baltic and North Seas with his guitar sleeping in the berth beside him at night. He wrote a book about the trip, which begins with the story of almost getting squashed by a tanker before dawn one morning in the North Sea.

He moved to North Africa, then set off across the Sahara by hitching with locals – bouncing through a minefield on the way that made his mother have bad dreams. He loved the adventure, but he missed the music.

In 2005, Randall returned stateside to scrounge up a career as a performing songwriter, hoping it wasn’t too late. So far, it hasn’t been. As the “Partial Capo Guy,” Randall has written two books for Hal Leonard, recorded a DVD for Kyser Musical Products, and given workshops at some of the biggest festivals in United States. As a performer, Randall has been a finalist in the Founder’s Title and Mid-Atlantic Song Contests, A regional finalist at Kerrville, a showcase artist at Northeast and Midwest Folk Alliance, and at the International Folk Alliance in Memphis, and an Audience Favorite at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. His 2007 live release, “One Night in Louisiana” made a respectable dent in the folk DJ charts (One single, “Lebanon,” was #8 in May,) and he’s generally a nice guy to have around, capos or not.

Randall is as much at home in a Bangkok slum or a Senegalese village, at the Kennedy Center in D.C. or the Fine Arts Palace in Brussels sandwiched between a twitchy orchestra and a full house, or shoeless on the floor of your living room. Randall has sung in a dozen languages in over 35 countries.

Lynne Andrews: “When Randall left the confines of classical music largely behind, they lost a great talent, but the world gained a good friend - a friend who will tell its stories with grace, compassion, humility and humor.”


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"Courage," said Amelia, "is the price that life exacts for granting peace." "Why?" asks Chatwin. Why do we yearn for the horizon, walk away from our warm villages, over the next hill, then over the next again?

On July 2nd 1937, a tiny plane dropped into the Pacific, tearing the fabric of humanity's hopes on its way down. The search for her captain continues: if we ourselves don't jump headlong into the breach, then we are perversely fascinated by those who do. Our inner landscape resonates just as boldly as a mountain summit or a solo ocean crossing, with identical wanderlust. Some of us gape at the heady adventurers, appalled at their boldness, while secretly wishing we could follow them.



All of us are praying for land.

reviews

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  • Velvet vocals, clear diction, perfect pitch..
    author: Bob McKillop

    CD Review by Bob McKillop, mainefolkmusic.com Randall Williams was trained in classical voice technique in a Belgium conservatory, and that training comes through in the measure of care with which he sings. Velvet vocals, clear diction, perfect pitch. It’s really quite beautiful. His early 2008 release, “Praying for Land”, is full of this wonderful singing, along with his expertly picked acoustic guitar playing, and contributions from some other very talented musicians. Ann Hurley’s cello sets a mood on “I Will Come for You”. Slats Klug’s Wurliter adds some heady atmosphere in “Guatemala”. Gordon Lowry’ guitar leads are key elements of many of these songs, and Krista Detor’s harmonies compliment William’s lead vocals nicely. Dave Weber (Carrie Newcomer, Krista Detor) gets production credits and the disc was recorded at Airtime Studios in Bloomington, Indiana. The mix is clear, if not intricately engineered, and I like the way the bass and percussion are important, but not over-emphasized in the mix. The title track, “Praying for Land”, is a song in praise of explorers, and of people who draw on their spirit. A rambling drum shuffle suggests an open, unfamiliar road. Fiddle, piano, and guitar move us through two sets of verses; the first invokes those who went out into the mists of adventure, and never returned; the second calls up the successes of those who came back from the unknown. Both sets of lyrics celebrate the spirit in these explorers, and the ordinary people who bring that spirit to their ordinary lives. “I Will Come For You” is the story of a World War II veteran who has a daughter with a Belgian lover. He never gets to meet his child, or complete his life with his lover, due to the forces of war and fate that inexorably pull people apart. The reunion at the close of the song makes for a tender tale of reconciliation and destiny. I loved the story telling, but the song never kicked in for me emotionally – the structure and the lyrical texture just doesn’t lift the narrative above the level of factual reporting. My favorite on the album is “Stronger for Your Flame”. A joyous piano part, combined with a strong, strummed guitar groove, give this track a great, moving spirit. Laura Cerulli’s percussion keeps us honest, and Krista Detor’s backing vocals add highlights to the chorus in a way that brings home the message. On this track, Williams finally digs in with conservatory-trained voice, and conveys some emotion and passion in a manner that is missing on one or two of these other tunes. “’Cause you were all of this and more Borrowed light from those who came before And the children who haven’t yet been named Are stronger for your spark Stronger for your flame” Randall Williams was chosen in 2007 from among the emerging artists at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and so will be touring with the Falcon Ridge Preview tour along with Anthony Da Costa, Lindsey Mac, and Joe Crookston – a pretty good line up!

  • author: Emily Brook

    This CD makes me want to quit my job, sell all my stuff, and satisfy my own wandering soul for awhile. Each song conjures powerful emotions, vivid images and palpable sensations,and generally speaks to Randall's talent as a singer, songwriter, and performer. Amazing.

  • Praying For Land
    author: Ron Shaffer

    This thing kicks butt. Reminds me of David Wilcox, with production along the lines of Shawn Colvin. Don't waste your time reading this... buy it!

  • author: Dave Townsend

    I first heard Randall Williams singing "I Will Come For You" Based on a true story, it's lyrics and melody was absolutly beautiful. The rest of the CD is full of the same kind of thoughtful lyrics and nice melodies, I would agree that his music and songwriting style reminds me of David Wilcox. A very enjoyable CD.

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