Oka Vanga

The third album from this folk-Americana duo is for the most part a welcome remedy during challenging times, being a concise and precise half an hour of upbeat, well paced and rhythmic music. It doesn't all work; opener ‘Beneath the Apple Tree’ throws too much at the ear, but the more balanced ‘Bows of Yew’ is good and eerie, and the violin work creates a fine groove. Other picks are Celtic sounding instrumentals ‘Tenpenny Bit & The Crooked Crow’, a jaunty miniature, and ‘Blackthorn Stick & Atholl Highlanders’, a similar piece, equally effective but fleshed out with violin and percussion. ‘Blue Sky in Our Veins’ veers towards country music and utilises fiddle and double bass nicely, but best of the bunch is the closer ‘The Cuckoo’, a cracking rough cut take on the traditional song, arranged with simple ukulele and guitar parts and sounding authentic and full of vim.

Overall, then, this is admirable and comforting work; the songs are quite eclectic in range but hang together well as a set. Angela Meyer's vocals are enjoyably versatile throughout and the band's dynamic contributions keep it all fresh and interesting.