‘All That We Had, We Stole’ by Patch & The Giant (Album)

Patch & The Giant: grafting has turned the band into the distinguished act they are today

The folk quintet have been brewing their debut album for over two years and it might have just paid off

This might be the band’s debut album, but they have been gracing the festival scene for some time, appearing at Green Man, Secret Garden Party, Cambridge Folk Festival, Wilderness and BoomTown Fair. They’ve supported artists including John Spiers, The Twilight Sad and Roo Panes, and they’ve played their own headline tours. The grafting has turned the band into the distinguished act they are today.

Patch & The Giant are: Luke Owen (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin), Angie Rance (backing vocals, accordion, trumpet, flugelhorn, piano, harmonica, mandolin), Gabriel Merryfield (violin), Derek Yau (cello, double bass), Nick Harris (backing vocals, bass guitar, percussion, acoustic guitar, harmonica, banjo).

The songs on All That We Have, We Stole act as a folk collage, with many forms of the style present. Owen’s husky voice tells stories of love and pain through ballads and shanties, such as Where My Body Lies and A Local Man.

There is a clear rock influence, with the opening bars of The Beggar’s Song sounding more Oasis then Dylan. The layering of violins, percussion and trumpets drop in and out, adding to the rich texture of the song. Elsewhere, Flowers is the clearest and most stripped back song on the album. The vocals at the top of the mix are accompanied by an acoustic guitar playing rhythm. The peace is broken as the song sparks into life during the second half.

The band uses songs like melting pots, turning their influences into pieces of music that are expertly crafted, making this a debut album to be treasured by folkies.

Verdict: Bold songwriting and creative story-telling

Dave Chrzanowski

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