An upcoming quartet from County Sligo, comprising Lucie Crichlow, Anthony Mannion, Luke Mercer and Leo Morris, they’ve not been together that long, releasing their debut EP, Irish Boys, last year. That earned them good reviews and audiences on their native circuit and attracted the interest of Steve Wickham from The Waterboys who joined them to perform on this, their five track follow-up.
Incorporating lap steel, banjo, mandolin, guitar and piano, they’re more Americana inclined than Irish folk, Crichlow taking lead on four of the songs, kicking off with ‘West’, a jazzy swing, bluegrass number with everyone providing harmony on the refrain and a late entry brass playout. ‘Oh My Love’ is a folksier ballad with minimal deep piano notes, the only reservation being that you keep expecting to pick up the tempo rather than maintain the sombre tone throughout.
The nautically-themed ‘Boats’ brings a male voice to the front (neither the sleeve nor the press release identifies who), but it’s a somewhat middling affair, despite picking up the pace slightly midway with some cascading acoustic guitar, that suggests they should stick with playing to Crichlow’s vocal strengths. Something quickly reinforced with the arrival of ‘With You I Ride’, a banjo led, motorbike and murder song that suggests The Corrs without any of the overblown production before they close up shop with the sprightly bluegrass-fuelled title track. Word is they plan to expand their gigging horizons next year, this should whet appetites nicely.
Mike Davies
Artists’ website: http://www.oldhannah.com/
‘West’ – live in the studio:
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