Yvonne Bolton & Alan Jordan
Album: Silver Threads
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 11
Website: http://yvonneandalan.com/

Yvonne Bolton & Alan Jordan are an Irish duo that came together to perform traditional music as well as writing a collection of new, traditional tunes to ensure the genre remains true, fresh and vital. I first came across Alan Jordan as part of the Outside Track, whose "Flash Company" album I reviewed a while back, but fiddle and concertina player Yvonne Bolton was a new name to me. That said I don't think it'll be long before you see her popping up on other recordings.

Between the two of them they have penned most of the songs on the album, but a glance at the notes indicates that this tends to be with each of them working alone and bringing, predominantly tunes, to the party to play with arrangements and the introduction of a couple of guest musicians across "Silver Threads. I say predominantly tunes as there are a couple of songs including the oft recorded, "Black Waterside" with the duo going for an arrangement influenced by the late great Bert Jansch and "New Road" which Jordan, wrote for himself.

Most of the tunes are guitar fiddle or guitar concertina with additional instruments, such as whistle and bodhran providing additional embellishment. The result is an album that feels positively alive and, to my ear, feels as if there has been a lot of water that has influenced the album. The album feels as though there is a more of a flow to the music, rather than a more dominant earthy timbre that I find in a lot of Irish music.

"Silver Threads" is an album that I found remarkably easy to access it seems to open up for you as you progress through it, with each song finding something different to give you. Yvonne Bolton & Alan Jordan have opened their account with a delightful and generous album, one that makes me want to get out and catch the duo live, should the opportunity present.

Neil King