The debut album by 2002 BBC Young Folk Award Winners
(have you ever thought that there must be as many
past folk/trad music contestants out there now as
there are past Big Brother housemates?) whilst good
doesn't quite live up to the accompanying publicity
blurb -in fact I wouldn't have known if I hadn't been
breathlessly told that they were a "vibrant young
trio dripping in Celtic fervour" etc. Putting
that stuff aside (and they're not guilty of writing
it) the album has nothing to be ashamed about, and
in fact has a lot to recommend it from the impressive
percussive skills of Cormac Byrne to the mature singing
of Anna Esselmont (which I wish there had been more
of) particularly on the old Sisters Unlimited 'No
Going Back'. The album sags a wee bit in the middle
with a little too much similarity, and fiddle in high
register for my taste, but nevertheless they have
an innovative edge and - a great thing- come over
as a trio who enjoy what they're doing, to the degree
that I'd imagine they'd be excellent live, and that
their next album will build on the strengths of this
one.
