Whilst never achieving huge commercial success, Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith has carved out a notable niche in the crowded field of folky troubadours, thanks to his melodic prowess and his music’s warm, inviting atmosphere. Along the way he has assembled a seriously heavyweight list of high-profile admirers, with Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Ray Davies and Nick Lowe among those to have sung his praises.
As another collection of elegant folk-pop, Forever Endeavour certainly doesn’t rewrite the rulebook, but Sexsmith’s songwriting craft and low-key vocal delivery prove tough to resist. Opening track ‘Nowhere To Go’ is a terrific slice of baroque pop, with the acoustic rhythms and Sexmith’s trademark baritone vocals nicely accompanied by a mournful trumpet. ‘Snake Road’ finds the singer augmenting the basic folk template further with brass and piano, whilst the autumnal atmosphere of ‘Lost In Thoughts’ gives it the feel of a newly uncovered ‘60s gem.
‘She Does My Heart Good’, meanwhile, is the archetypal Sexsmith track, with the catchy melody and infectious rhythms combining to give the song an upbeat feel. Though Forever Endeavour is a little too one-paced for my tastes, taken on its own terms, it’s hard to argue with