Matter of Time

Edinburgh-based Dallahan follow their promising debut, When the Day is on the Turn, with the no less energetic and enjoyable Matter of Time. The formula by the international four-piece is much the same as before, but confidence levels have risen noticeably and the result is an album brimming with ideas executed with consummate skill. The quartet's native Scottish, Irish and Hungarian accents blend seamlessly in a set that embraces breathless instrumentals (the combustible ‘Logan Braes’, the pulsing ‘Dutch Courage’ and the quick-stepping ‘Zöld Erdőben’) and new yearning ballads. ‘Blow the Candle Out’ is a haunting duet between guitarist-vocalist Jack Badcock and Ciara McCafferty from the up-coming Derry-based Connla.

There's a strong but contemporary feeling for the traditional too, as the bracing coupling of jigs, ‘Ferny Hill’, and poetically doleful ‘Stretched on Your Grave’ eloquently testify. Jani Lang's Gypsy-accented fiddle on ‘Pierre's’ sings with such panache that it calls to mind Stéphane Grappelli at his most exuberant. Appearances by Paddy Callaghan (on button accordion), Jarlath Henderson (uilleann pipes and tin whistle), Jenny Hill's double bass and the percussion and trumpet of Toby Shippey ink in additional textures and new colours to an outfit clearly getting into its stride. And entertainingly so.