This album brings together artists from far and wide to celebrate the compassion to be found in the Homeless community, and those working alongside seeking to support people at their most vulnerable. It's aim is to raise awareness of the issue, and funds for Belfast charity, The People's Kitchen.
Kindness is a human emotion that has long been celebrated in song.
The opening song by Judie Tzuke and Rumer – ‘Sanctuary’ sets the tone for the album.
“This is a prayer for the broken humans; use a fist over a glove,
This a prayer for the Broken humans, and we can mend it all with love”
This version of the song, as a duet between the two artists, is only available on this charity album.
The first half of the album, has a very chilled vibe about it, celebrating compassion, and the goodness to be seen in others. Rumer, is an artist I have loved for a long time, and her ‘Better Place’ is a hymn to real people doing amazing things. Compassion and Grace are celebrated by the wonderful Irish voices of Frances and Mary Black Moya Brennan, and Cara Dillon. Local artists are well represented on the album, with telling contributions from Matt McGinn (A recent co-write with Paul Brady, stating we need to be kind to ourselves before we can help others, Ben Glover (Now a Nashville resident, with what could have been a title track, and the deeply resonant, and compelling tones of Stephen Rafferty.
Many of the artists featured, will be well-known to readers of Folk and Tumble, and have featured on the site as firm favorites. Interestingly it was a conversation with Joe Henry for Folk and Tumble, that was the spark and the idea for this collection, particularly his brilliant ‘Kindness of the World’ –
“I’d like to see your badge
Who are you to be so brave?
With one arm free to catch yourself
And you’re using it to wave;
Who are you to be so strong
That you can leave it all behind?
Laughing in your sleep
And trusting in the kindness of the word”
Ian Prowse’s ‘Battle’ remains a life-affirming cry against everyday adversaries, while Martin Stephenson’s ‘Broken Nights/Faded Cities’ is one man’s walk through a concrete jungle ‘looking for a Kindly gesture, looking for a helping hand’.
Indeed the compiler suggests there are two sets of songs here, the second collection, has a slightly tougher edge about it, and focuses on some of the issues encountered by people experiencing Homelessness. Addiction features heavily.
With 585 drug-related deaths in the North, Damien Dempsey’s ‘Ghosts of overdoses’, written at the height of the heroin epidemic in Dublin in 2008, remains as sadly relevant now. Heroin is a destroyer of people, friendships, and love, and Ralph McTell’s Poignant ‘Song for Martin‘, is a plea for a more empathetic response to the issue.
Carol Wilson, a wonderful artist from Donegal, went on a night outreach with volunteers at the People’s Kitchen to research her compassionate yet hard-hitting ‘Moonlight streets’. Emily Barker suggested a replacement of ‘Anywhere Away’, from the original song suggestion, and it fits as if it was commissioned for the project.
Diana Jones has been a chronicler of social injustice for many years, and her inclusion on any album is always a plus. Likewise Byrn Haworth, renowned for his slide guitar playing, ‘All I need is a home’ to disassemble the stigma faced by so many in the homeless community.
Perhaps the pivotal song on the album is ‘Car Crash’ by the amazing Hannah White. Following an abusive relationship, Hannah found herself bringing up her young child in a homeless hostel, terrified and having to steal food to feed her young son. The song is a searingly honest depiction of her own story. It is heartbreakingly beautiful.
“Homelessness is complicated and I hope it never touches you. For those whose lives are uncertain, kindness (no matter how small) is ALWAYS the biggest difference you can make to another human’s life and I’m grateful to the ones who smiled, squeezed my hand, listened…and didn’t judge” -Hannah White.
If you read this far along into the review, you’ll realise I think it’s a wonderful album, no doubt my opinion is influenced by the fact that I helped compile it, with this amazing array of artists.
Bias aside, at £10.00 (or more if you are so inclined!) for twenty wonderful songs, from such a line-up of illustrious artists, you could do worse, than show a little kindness, and download, and donate!
ALL PROCEEDS GO THE PEOPLE’S KITCHEN BELFAST. A CHARITY WORKING ALONGSIDE THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PEOPLE’S KITCHEN, BELFAST PLEASE GO TO – peopleskitchenbelfast.org