Reviews

Review, EDP 28/2/03, Brian Gaudet.

A classy second album by north Norfolk singer-songwriter best known for his role in the Neil Young tribute band Don’t Spook the Horse. There’s a direct reference to Mr Young in the catchy They’re not Cinnamon Girls, but, generally, the vocal style reminds one more of Paul Simon. Tender love songs suit Mark’s voice well but he can add a harder edge when needed as on the menacing title track. The solo tracks with just guitar and voice work best but here is some high-quality rock band backing on a few tracks. My only reservation was a bit of Tijuana brass creeping in to proceedings.

Review, Lynn news, 24/1/03, Frank Edmonds.

Don’t be denied this acoustic gem

Betcha haven’t heard of Mark Fawcett, have you? So if you saw this CD, you’d probably pass it by, eh? Thought so. What a pity.
Isn’t it a strange day and age, when you need the maximum onslaught of publicity to go out and buy something? And yet when you get that – I’m thinking Pop Stars/Idols/whatever, here – people flock in their droves to make any little thing a hit…regardless of quality.
So where does that leave an exquisite album of simple but beautifully-played acoustic songs, sung from the yearning soul of the heartbroken and shat-upon, that no one’s ever heard of?
In need of an audience, I guess. What a pity.
Because Graffiti is a real gem – a collection of achingly pretty tunes and ironic, bittersweet words that demands your attention.
Well, if you give it a chance, at any rate.
Dip in. Try it. Go on, I dare you. You won’t be disappointed, I’m sure – Hey even Gareth Gates fans won’t be disappointed!

Interview, Lynn news, 20/12/02, Frank Edmonds.

Writing’s on the wall for Mark

Norfolk music teacher and session musician Mark Fawcett has released his second album of powerful, melodic and introspective songs, Graffiti.
A man of many musical parts, Mark (27), runs the Neil Young tribute band DON’T SPOOK THE HORSE, and teaches guitar and songwriting both privately and for the charity Norfolk Music Works.

Mark, who has been playing guitar since he was ten, does session work for TV and radio, worked as a sound engineer and musician in Durham after studying at university there, and plays in world music band The Jones Project.
He also plays with ceilidh band News of the Victory – interestingly described as “traditional dancing done quite fast” featuring original material with Grateful Dead and Hendrix influences!

But the singer/songwriter idiom has always been his first love, and Graffiti follows his first CD, Rewrite the Summertime Blues.
Mark describes Graffiti as an album of reflective and searching songs, delivered simply but with passion, creating an intimate listening experience.
But he appreciates that such an approach brings with it problems in the wham-bam, poptastic world of 2002.
“ It’s a bit tricky because it’s not commercial,” he told The Page. “It hasn’t got drums, hasn’t got a band, and it is not David Gray
“ It’s more like a Seventies singer/songwriter, and it’s difficult to find the audience with those kind of sensibilities today, who are prepared to spend time listening to the lyrics.”
All of which is a shame – as anyone who has seen Mark’s powerful performances or heard his achingly pretty melodies will testify.
“ People say to me: ‘can’t you make it a bit more upbeat?’ and that’s so depressing,” he added. “But you can play a ballad with energy and make it interesting”
Mark cites his influences as Bruce Cockburn, Ani Difranco, Indigo girls, Richard Thompson, and of course Neil Young.