KRIS DREVER and Eamonn Coyne, Megan Henderson (EP) (Reveal Records)

[Maurice Hope]

www.krisdever.com 

www.revealrecords.co.uk 

Five tracks from top Scottish folk act, Kris Drever (guitar) with Eamonn Coyne (Irish tenor banjo) and Megan Henderson (fiddle, harmony vocals) make up a fine trio, for in Drever they have a vocalist with a fine timbre to his singing. 

 

Starting away with ‘Parcel of Rogues’ the music is slow, deliberate and with neat colourings of harmonica to go with acoustic guitar the journey is under way and in nice style I hasten to add. As they speak of deeds that took place on Scotland’s South west border (into what was then know as Cumberland). Next up are three tunes, as Irish tenor banjo, fiddle and rhythm guitar embrace ‘Mazurka’ prior to the roving ‘Highland’ and ‘Guns’ (the opening tune is from Toonagh Mazurka and Tommy Peoples) that is as in ‘The Guns Of The Magnificent Seven’ and it comes over well enough.

 

Stronger and deeper in depth of feeling is Sandy Wright’s ‘Wild Hurricane’ where the brooding lyrics are softened by mellow guitars and Henderson’s fined toned accompanying harmonies; if more use was made of her this would be an ace track. As for the instrumental ‘Lament Of Glencoe’ Drever tags to the song it possesses beautiful, graceful soothing tones (guitars and fiddle that is particularly sweet and warm). Though only six tracks the release works out good value in it lasts 25 minutes and with more Irish tenor banjo and fiddle to the fore and tunes ‘Paddy Fahey’ and ‘The Old Maid Of Galway’ the set ‘20 Quid Remix’ featuring JF Dickey is a superb effort. As the unit forage wildly for new niches to explore.

While from the other side of the pond, Appalachia is visited via a version of old favourite ‘Shady Grove’; though bustling with fiddle and harmony vocals for one reason or another it fails to make the impact anticipated. Maybe, I have heard so many times and was looking for something different from them.

 

                                                            Maurice Hope