By Darren Grayer. Pictures: Anita Foxall.
Southampton born and bred and English teacher by profession, Dan O’ Farrell has been an integral part of the local music scene since the late 80s when he formed Accrington Stanley with his school chums Richard ‘Baz’ Barrett and Chris Walsh. They became a four-piece in 1990 with the addition of Rufus Grig and enjoyed minor success with airplay on John Peel’s Radio 1 evening show and a tour to Japan.
They managed keep going for 30 years before playing live became more difficult, so Dan started writing and playing solo before forming The Difference Engine in 2017.
Dan’s love of music from that earlier era has never wavered, the influence of bands like The Go-Betweens and REM can still be heard in his music, but nowadays the sound of The Difference Engine is spread across folk and alt country with still an underlying element of indie rock never far away.
Saturday night (24/01/26) saw a sold-out Heartbreakers Bar host a launch for Dan O’ Farrell & The Difference Engine’s fourth album, The Fish That Learned To Drown. Expanded to a five piece for the night, Dan fronts the band as singer/guitarist, Chris Walsh and Rufus Grig are still by his side, providing drums and keyboards respectively. Another seasoned musician, Rick Foot, provides double bass duties, with guest, Matt Allwright, yes, that Matt Allwright, relieved from his weekday duties of appearing on The One Show, Vine On 5, and tackling dodgy builders, adding extra depth on electric and steel guitar.
“I’ve had my problems: that’s an understatement, actually, I hit deep water: no oxygen was getting to me,” begins set and album opener Heartbreak Hostel, a slow burning piece of alt country rock complete with twang drenched guitar solo and emotion driven content that Dan O’ Farrell’s rich, earthy vocal tones deliver perfectly.
There’s always thought provoking and sharp lyrical content to O’ Farrell’s songwriting, and it often observes events going in the wider world and social injustices. The Colonial Club could have been penned by Damon Albarn and takes a swipe at the constant issues of racism and the treatment of minority groups.
Cyanide Desire fairly rattles along before God Etc provides a gentle refrain that reflects on some of the ups and downs of life – “So I let Jesus take the wheel: he drove me off a cliff.” There can be light at the end of any tunnel seems to be underlying message to this one.
Sunny Weather is an upbeat pop track that explores self-doubt. Alarm, closing side one on the album, features arco double bass, fingerpicked guitar, and Dan O’ Farrell’s warm vocals for a melancholic yet beautiful moment.
We’re then treated to a couple of tracks that were considered for the album but didn’t make the final cut. My Beast and My Best Life are both great pop tunes that would be high on the list to make it onto many albums, but such is the quality of this record, they’ll hopefully see that light of day on a future format.
Loss opens side two and the set continues and sees Dan tackle the personal loss of his father, before Asbestos Love, the belting first release from TFTLTD opens gently before morphing into full blown indie rock territory that Frank Black/ The Pixies have often occupied over the years.
The decision to invite TV regular Matt Allright into the line-up shows a touch of genius on Dan’s part, he’s a very accomplished musician and his work on the steel guitar is a thing of real beauty that comes into its own towards the end of the set. It’s also noticeable the amount of people in the room thinking the same thing – that face looks quite familiar!
If Goodbye were to receive any kind of radio airplay it would be an instant hit. Another gentle piano driven piece that has a simply stunning chorus- “When you’re always the hugger, never the hugged, never give judgement, always get judged. Always the lover, never the loved, the only word is goodbye.” Chuck in a key change in the latter part of the song and the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention – quite simply, beautiful.
The same can be said about title track The Fish That Learned To Drown. Another slow burner that builds into epic proportions with its repeated line, “It’s easy to be swept away by hurricanes.” On both occasions the steel guitar playing is absolutely sublime. The sort of thing that had it happened in a field full of 20k music fans would be talked about for a long time.
Ursa Minor is a fitting closure to both album and set, another reflective piece of piano driven music that is short, sweet and lyrically thought provoking.
Heartbreakers becomes a wall of noisy appreciation as the Difference Engine leave the stage. The cries for more are short lived as they reappear to much delight with Dan quick to show his thanks, not for the first time. “This doesn’t happen very often,” he chuckles.
An encore gives chance to play couple of old favourites; Rosaline Wins and 80s Hip-Hop/50s Rock n Roll are lapped up with more cheers and clapping. That was some hour and a quarter!
In releasing TFTLTD, Dan O’ Farrell has reached a career peak that will cement his place as one of Southampton’s finest ever songwriters. The work of someone who has tasted life’s ups and downs and looked at himself and what’s happening in the wider world around him and produced an absolute beauty of a record. If I had my way, he’d be the second English Teacher to be considered for a Mercury Award. Don’t take my word, have a listen for yourself!
Another great night for the local music scene began with a stunning set by Charles Bueller, whose beautifully intricate songs kept a silent crowd totally captivated. Emotion driven vocals that were virtually whispered at times, coupled with some delicate guitar work.
He was followed by Bas and Jack, a duo whose mixture of folk, blues and jazz was beautifully delivered, with great vocal harmonies and a masterclass on the double bass.
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