The Duhks
Album: Beyond The Blue
Label: Compass
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.duhks.com

Following a two year hiatus, Canada's, The Duhks, make a more than welcome return to releasing with their fifth album and Compass records debut, "Beyond The Blue" and the really great news is that it's pretty much been recorded with their classic line-up, Jessee Harvey, Kevin Garcia, Colin Savoie and Leonard Podolak, tey are joined by new member, fiddler Rosie Newton, who takes over from Tania Elizabeth, but both Tania and Jordon McConnell make contributions top the album and in Tania's case an extensive contribution appearing on more than half the tracks.

The album kicks in with the title track, placed where it should be, and when I say kicks, I really do mean like a mule. You can feel the beast getting jittery and then ready to lash out with the Canadian influenced folk rock. A sound that really builds over the next track, "Banjo Roustabout", which really confirms the band's intention to deliver hard hitting sounds resplendent with great melodies and harmonies.

One of the things that has been consistent about all Duhks album's is the band's ability to mix it up and that very much remains the case here, with some songs played in waltz timing, there's an almost obligatory lullaby to give you a break of pace and regular switches between moree lectric instrumentation and acoustic ones.

The result is an album that captures your attention and keeps it. It lets you breath and forces yopu to crank it up as well, with the various extremities tapping away like a good 'un. "Beyond The Blue" really does show a band right on the top of their form. As well as French and English traditions, the album also draws on a Scandinavian penned instrumental; it really is an eclectic album.

It really is an album though, the whole feels very well balanced, it's an album with a very solid and very stylish sound, one that takes the influences and builds them into a very complete offering, The Duhks have landed.

Neil King