Things Found In Books is a work of beauty. Those forgotten fragments that made their way to the Culzean Castle noticeboard proved to be a rich source inspiration indeed. Yvonne and Boo have written both individually and collectively and their songs bring those sundry pictures, documents and keepsakes back to life as the duo ponder the stories behind them. There’s a lot of wistfulness in the music and that wistfulness is given real substance by the small team of musicians that Yvonne and Boo have selected to help them out. Gustaf Ljunggren in particular is a busy man on Things Found In Books. His array of instruments comprises clarinet, xylophone, prepared guitar, cornet, banjo, organ, violin, viola, pedal steel, alto cornet, fretless bass, bass clarinet, bawu, mandolin, mandola and mandocello. On some of the album’s songs, he even manages get pretty much through the whole range. Yvonne and Boo share the vocals throughout the album, alongside their various guitars, pianos and mandolins. The sound is given a further boost by the contributions of Pete Harvey, on cello, and David Lyon on accordion and keyboards. Opening track, The Things You Find In Books acts as an agenda for the rest of the album – both lyrically and musically. The accompaniment of woodwind and accordion is simply divine as Boo and Yvonne set out their manifesto in crystal-clear tones: “There, between the pages, words come through the ages, telling you that life is not designed.” The tracks flow thick and fast. Things Found in Books manages to squeeze 15 tracks into a playing time of 35 minutes and the songs are uniformly charming. There’s a warm 1930s feel to much of the music that perfectly suits the stories being told. Marion And Sydney, a song inspired by a black and white photograph of an elderly couple, is a soothing ragtime number, driven along by Boo’s fingerpicked guitar. Down By The Harbour features more excellent fingerpicking, a heart-melting clarinet solo from Gustaf and vocal harmonies that would have even Gram and Emmylou blinking in disbelief. In his lyrics to Navy Cut, Boo speculates upon how the inevitable death of the owner of the discarded cigarette packet was mourned by his nearest and dearest. Elsewhere, Yvonne improvises a piano accompaniment to her recitation of the text of a letter written by George V in the wake of World War One for the poignant A Letter From The King. Boo recalls his own memories of a golden year with the gentle Paul McCartney in 1970, and yes, the song DOES have a McCartney-ish feel to it. Yvonne assumes the mantle of Joni Mitchell for the quirky Kate and the Missing Trees. Gustaf shines as he works his way around his forest of instruments, and Yvonne adds flourishes of bright piano in the jazzy instrumental, Hieroglyphics. Producer Sandy Jones brings a circus-like feel to Viennese Horse – another instrumental piece – with his Riding School sound effects. The songs on Things Found in Books are all thoroughly engaging and enjoyable. If pushed to choose a favourite, I think I’d go for the super-sweet Waiting. It’s another song inspired by a photograph on the Culzean noticeboard. This time the subject is a team of waiters posed outside a restaurant, sometime during the 1950s. Boo is on top vocal form and the backing harmonies will leave listeners feeling that they’ve just been party to an act of magic. And, as for Gustaf’s wonderful clarinet….! Things Found In Books is an intriguing album, prompted by a fascinating concept and executed with love and precision. Not to be missed.
