17/06/2012

Crossing The Ocean

The House Devils

Crossing the Ocean is a refreshing and rich collection of Irish, English and American folk songs and tunes. The sense of adventure and melancholy captured in the title runs through the album like a glittering stream; songs of marital strife, the clash of country and town, loss and longing, emigration and of course the bright light of redemption are interspersed with brilliant sets of tunes and reels.

The House Devils are a talented bunch and benefit from slightly different musical directions to the norm, Mat Walklate won the British Blues Harmonica Championship at the age of twenty one and his playing is phenomenal. Andrew Dinan's fiddle playing is earthy and expressive; Matt Fahey's vocals get right into the character of the songs and personalities inhabiting them; Anthony Haller's double bass gives the whole album a big perspective. Added to that foundation are a rich collection of guest musicians resulting in a really involving and uplifting sound.

Maybe reviewing this the day after 'Bloomsday' 2012 is the wrong thing to do, as everything to do with Ireland at the moment seems terribly deep and resonant. One paralell can be drawn between Joyce's writing and this album however which is their avoidance of the sentimental Celtic theme that can clog the arteries of some writing and music.

These songs and tunes get to the root of so many emotions and situations that shine a light upon the human condition, definitely from an Irish perspective but not being driven by it stylistically.

Iain Hazlewood
 
www.thehousedevils.co.uk/

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