Paul McKenna Band
Album: Elements
Label: Greentrax
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.paulmckennaband.com

When I first heard the Paul McKenna Band's debut album, I described them as a band that would come to dominate the Scottish/Celtic music scene for the next twenty years like Planxty and The Battlefield band and whilst the music scene has changed since the days of Planxty, judging by the quality of album number three, "Elements" I believe that prediction holds true.

Since the last album there has been a personnel change with Mike Vass taking over from Rua MacMillan on the fiddle duties, but apart from the slight change in playing style on that instrument, The Paul McKenna band continue to deliver well written and well arranged songs, as well as the occasional instrumental to confirm their playing prowess, with no hint of compromise.

Heavy touring in the US and Canada has seen their popularity grow exponentially as well as in their native Scotland and hopefully, "Elements" will give them increased success this side of the border. This is an album that draws on a number of different areas, everyday life, politics, love and history to produce an album that is very easy to relate to, even when the subject matter speaks of dark and at times shameful events.

Paul McKenna himself, has a really expressive timbre to his voice, one that makes you feel that he is living the songs as he's singing them, a rare gift. When joined in harmony from the boys in the band you really can lose yourself in those self same songs as you feel part of that wider expression.

Whilst there are political songs on the album, this is not a political album per se, more that politics is a fully ensnared part of life and needs to be reflected, be that looking at the big global issues or the personal ones, which makes a change from the angry, high horse, political songs that are, arguably, more familiar in folk music.

In "Elements" the Paul McKenna Band show that they are an album more than capable of delivering on the long haul, more than worthy of you investing your time in. They have a natural rhythm to their presentation, one that picks you up and whirls you around, an absolute delight.

Neil King