VAMM
Album: VAMM
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.vamm.co.uk

I have been very excited to hear VAMM ever since noting their appearance at the 2012 Shrewsbury Folk Festival, at the time although I wanted to go see them live I missed the show so I since have been eagerly awaiting this debut album.

They say that good things come to those who wait and that is certainly true here. According to their website 'Vamm' is a Shetlandic word which means to 'bewitch or entrance' and that is a very suitable name for the band.

The trio are an instrumental based band giving a touch of gentler music by using two fiddles and a Låtmandola (similar to a mandolin/bouzouki type instrument). This combination of instruments and the tender music they create does seem almost hypnotic and is fantastic to help you relax and unwind.

Most of the tunes on the album are these slower paced mild tunes but nicely mixed with some faster foot tapping tunes such as 'The Ostrich' and 'Better Days'. There are also some lovely mystical sounding tunes such as 'To The West' which really helps with the bewitching suggestion of the band name.

This is the perfect band to kick back to with a glass of wine on a summer evening in the garden.

Paul Rawcliffe