Mànran

This self-titled debut from the new young bucks of Scots folk is a feisty and sweaty affair. Founded in 2010, the band have already made an enormous impact, winning Album of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards ceremony in 2011. They are undeniably modern and unrepentantly populist – Mànran’s founder Gary Innes has previously stated that he’d like the band to be as successful as Runrig or Capercaillie, and even recruited Runrig producer Calum Malcolm to work on their debut single, the deceptively catchy ‘Latha Math’. On the basis of this album, Mànran are a force to be reckoned with. The album is a mix of traditional and contemporary tracks, full of pounding drums, vigorous guitar and stomping rhythms, which are especially evident in the youthful rebellion of ‘Oran na Cloiche’ and the relentless skip of ‘Puirt’.

As a live band they’re known for their spirited and energetic presence, and this is sometimes lost in this recording. There is no denying the quality of musicianship here: there’s fine playing from Calum Stewart on uilleann pipes, Ewen Henderson on fiddle and Gary Innes on accordion, as well as guest Cunningham on piano and cittern. But occasionally, just occasionally, Mànran feels too polished, too seamless, and the heart of the track becomes lost in the sheer power and exuberance of the playing. Mànran remain a powerful live band with a huge amount of promise; one to keep your eye on.