Review: The Scotsman

UISCEDWR (pronounced "ish-ka-dooer", meaning water) are a young Welsh-Irish trio featuring co-founders Anna Esslemont on fiddle and Cormac Byrne on bodhran and percussion, with Ben Hellings on guitar. They picked up the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award this year, and their self-produced debut album is an impressive introduction. The wide-ranging instrumental sets are tight and inventive, and Esslemont throws in three vocal outings, two of which feature her own lyrics. Although she eventually rebelled against the restrictions of classical music, her training is often evident, while the guitar and percussion provide a powerful rhythmic momentum.