Time to Fly – a debut album from David Foley & Jack Smedley


I get sent the odd album along with a modicum of books to review. The books are easy. Dip in, test the flavour, form an opinion, make some comments and pen a few words.
Over the years of course, I have reviewed everything from dire travelogues about Aberdonian suspension bridges – yes there are such things – to a quite splendid Dracula prequel with pretty much everything in between. And what a privilege.

You never know what the postman will bring next though.

A month or so ago, prior to all this virus stuff, I received a block-stream of music from Corrie @ Hanna Innes Communications.

The likes of Hamish Napier was foremost amongst the mix alongside a recording of Time to Fly by David Foley and Jack Smedley. Hamish (review @: Aberdeen Voice.com)

I was a bit busy at the time and only got as far as Hamish. Today though, I had a wee listen to David and Jack. Glad I did. Alongside a welcome acoustic vibe, the album reeks of craftsmanship and reflects what the duo refer to as the ‘fundamentals of our musicianship’.

Accompanied on this album by Jenn Butterworth, John Lowrie and James Lindsay, Smedley and Jack met while studying at the Royal Conservatoire and have performed with a medley of folk greats and at Celtic Connections.

Says Jack: ‘With Time to Fly we have drawn inspiration from our musical careers to date while getting back to basics and re-appreciating what it is about the music and the instruments that we really love. It’s been really good fun working together to give the huge amount of material we have written together an airing. Especially in such a laid-back way and out with the studio setting.’

He's not wrong.

Samples @: https://www.foleysmedley.com/

Duncan Harley


Location: Inverurie AB51, UK

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