Deighton

2021 saw the reemergence of British folk’s most enigmatic lost son. You may recognize Matt Deighton from his time fronting Acid Jazz heroes Mother Earth; you may remember him as Paul Weller’s guitarist in the late 90’s, or Noel Gallagher’s recommendation for who should replace him when he quit the European tour in 2000. Or maybe you don’t. For almost two decades, the man they keep calling the natural successor to Nick Drake, Davey Graham and John Martyn has been himself more of a rumour – a murmur among musicians, songwriters and diehard music lovers who proudly display his rare vinyl releases like trophies.

Hearing this album for the first time, one is tempted, between the smiles and laughter it inevitably elicits, to label it as a cousin to Morris On for those who don't recall Barry Dransfield's 1972 wild and woolly ride with Richard Thompson et al., the latter was a highly informal and delightful stroll across the English folk landscape that broke the few remaining barriers between folk, rock, and folk-rock. But Acoustic Music to Suit Most Occasions goes further than Dransfield and company, and in a slightly different direction and intent the Deighton Family apply their mostly traditional instruments (OK, there is an electric guitar here, but it's amazing unobtrusive and, in fact, fits like a glove) to a brace of songs that supposedly put players like them on the sidelines in terms of popular music, and completely and convincingly make them over.