A trip to the Folk Alliance conference in Memphis in February is a great way to see both established acts and up and coming singer/songwriters – chatting to artists around the conference in 2008, the one name that kept cropping up was Anthony Da Costa, and after catching a couple of his shows it was obvious why.  There were many brilliant performances at the event, but none left an impression quite like Anthony’s showcase. 
He’s a young man, and he writes in a unique style – he has a songwriting maturity well beyond his years, but also sees things through the eyes of a young man.  It’s a compelling mix, and because of his unique outlook he tackles issues as important as the theme of ‘Ain’t Much of a Soldier’ through to the playful thoughts of ‘Carnival’ with equal care and attention.
What is most striking on this disc is the feel of flow, it has a tangible presence and a natural air – it’s not raw or unpolished by any means, but it feels fresh, organic and full of life.  The production is very subtle, Anthony and his guitar are joined by dobro, lap steel, fiddle and drums – it’s simple and direct but it’s an approach that turns a very good album into a great one.
This relatively simple, stripped down approach brings the focus on to the lyrics, and that’s where Anthony shines, of the 11 songs here there isn’t one that isn’t worthy of comment, the focus of the album is ‘Dolly & Porter’, a beautiful track with memorable lyric and melody; ‘The Devil’s Won’ evokes the memory of a young Dylan; and ‘Carnival’ appears throw away on first listen, but as a piece of writing it’s a beautifully constructed song.
He has obvious links to modern day songwriters such as Jonathan Byrd, Chuck Brodsky & Dan Bern, but he’s a distinct talent and a writer who knows how to connect with his audience in both the live setting and in his recordings.
A fantastic collection from an important, emerging artist.  Essential.

Track listing
1 Ain't Much of a Soldier
2 The Devil's Won
3 Dolly & Porter
4 Fiddle Girl
5 Upstate Living
6 Back of My Mind
7 I'm Your Son
8 Wall Around Baghdad
9 Dance to This Song
10 Lady
11 Carnival

£12.99