Ben Walker and Chris Knowles are both multi-instrumentalists, who have collaborated musically for several years on live performances and in the recording studio. Ben is also a singer/songwriter, and 'Fisherman' is a collection of his songs, accompanied by himself on acoustic guitar, and by Chris on bouzouki on 11 of the songs, and on celtic harp on the other 2. Ben also plays the bass flute on the song 'Drifting'. As an instrumentalist, Ben plays both traditional folk music and jazz beautifully on numerous instruments; on this CD of his songs he plays mostly acoustic guitar, but the arrangements the duo produce show various folk and subtle jazzy influences. The overall atmosphere of the album musically is mainly fairly relaxed but gently intricate, with mostly just the two acoustic instruments weaving harmonies and counter-melodies around each other, and the lyrics are thoughtful, philosophical, wistful and at times inspiring. Ben has 'a pleasantly dark and mellow voice' ( Gordon Potter,- The Living Tradition website). Ben draws much of his inspiration for his songs from his life experiences and observations. Many of his songs reflect the real life situations and emotions that many people find themselves facing in their lives. The first song 'Thirty Years ago' is a song from the personified point of view of a fiddle that has been left unplayed in a cupboard for years by it's owner. 'Amigo' has the dark subject of man's inhumanity. 'Come Around' is an evocative song of Autumnal nostalgia. The title song 'Fisherman', in 5/4 time, hints at reincarnation, and 'Photograph Wall' is about all the people who disappear to become 'missing persons', from the perspective of those left behind. For more detailed information please see Ben's website (see link).