Being a long-time veteran of the Canadian folk scene,
Rick Fielding probably can't help but be compared to folk legend
Gordon Lightfoot, to whom he bares a strong vocal resemblance and shares his propensity towards odes to Canadian life with. Still,
Fielding is more than just a run-of-the-mill folk singer, as he possesses more than adequate skills on six and 12-string guitar, banjo, and autoharp. Though he only penned three of the fourteen tracks represented on
This One's the Dreamer, having set poems to music on three others, this is definitely the work of an expert interpreter of traditional folk forms. From a rather unique take on the classic "Salty Dog" to the gorgeous autoharp accompaniment on the suicide ballad "The Wind & Rain" and the quaint banjo tune of "Catspaw's Rag,"
Fielding is joined by some of Canada's finest folkies, such as
Grit Laskin and
Chris Whiteley. None of the fourteen songs disappoint. Though
This One's the Dreamer might not be revelatory material, it is a beautifully crafted traditional folk album. ~ Matt Fink