Sounding not dissimilar to a Klezmer party in full swing courtesy of Hilary Coleman’s clarinet the set of tunes “Fly Cellar/Unity/Heva Cornishe” in fact provide the setting for a Schottishe dance. Both of the two opening tunes are penned by master multi-instrumentalist Neil Davey who along with Bec Applebee (darabuka/crowdy crawn) and Steve Hunt (guitar) make up the rest of this resolutely Cornish band. The second track, “Ann Tremellan” a variant of the more established Barbara Allan is a sumptuous banquet of layered vocals courtesy of Coleman and Applebee interlaced with a gently rolling, hypnotic mandolin/bouzouki riff topped-off by guest Will Coleman’s gaita bagpipes. So, here we have the opening gambit for what proves a real box of delights in both musicality and technique and one that I hope any self-respecting ‘folk’ musician should aspire to. Meanwhile, in another moment of quite reflection the Padstow via America song “Maggie May” (not the rousing Liverpool chant) performed with the subtleness it deserves by Steve Hunt will I’m sure be soaked sponge-like into the folk tradition (much like Roger Bryant’s “Cornish Lads”) and work its way into many sessions throughout the UK. On the other hand if it’s dazzling displays of digital dexterity you’re looking for check out Davey’s tour de force on the triplet frenzied “Bishop’s Jig/No Song No Supper”…astonishing or what? There’s no need for a corny pastiche (sorry, I had to get that in somewhere!) when you can get the ‘real’ thing right here and I just hope that I’ve persuaded you, the great record buying public into dipping into your hard earned savings to purchase a more than worthy recording.
PETE FYFE
Artist website: www.dalla.co.uk
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