Kara
Album: Waters So Deep
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.karafolkband.com

From Hertfordshire come Kara - a unique and innovative folk quartet whose debut album, 'Waters So Deep' is a gem of a collection of songs, many inspired by Russian folklore yet broad enough to take on influences which extend globally and contain more contemporary themes. Across the album there are nods to European and British folk cultures as well as taking a trip across the Atlantic for their sources. Led by the distinctively rich and crystal clear tones of singer Daria Kulesh, the guitar and songwriting of Ben Honey, Gary Holbrook's accordion and the distinctive sound of the hammered dulcimer of Kate Rouse, they create a sound which evokes a variety of images and lush atmospheres.

'Rusalka' opens the record in true Russian style - described as a saucy tale of a monk and a mermaid, a typical traditional folk music theme if ever there was one, it's the song which gives the album its title. Lyrically, it tells the tale of a playful spirit lurking in the depths which proves too tempting to resist. It's the first of many songs which have the effect on conjuring up all sorts of visions to accompany their opulent soundtrack.

'Union Street' is a gorgeous ballad which suddenly kicks into an all out accordion jig before leading straight into 'In Lille' which slowly swings along in waltz time and contains that certain accordion ambience which transports listeners to images to match the story of illicit and impulsive assignations in French streets.

There's a nod to the English tradition with the set of tunes with the intriguing title of 'Flying Spaghetti Monster' complied from three well known pub session classics, including Andy Cutting's 'Spaghetti Panic' and the three instrumentalists also get to cut a rug in 'Found Hamonium', another buoyant and enthusiastically played collection of tunes which conjure up the sights and sounds of sea shanties and rolling waves - watch out Captain Pugwash!

On 'The Mermaid's Lullaby' Daria shares writing credits with Rimsky-Kosikov in another example of the Russian culture coming to the fore with the song taken from the Sadko opera and given what she calls "a thoroughly folky treatment." The further inclusion of the two Russian songs in 'Black Eyes/Bumblebee' sees Kara exploring the dark side of what the sleevenotes call "sacrificing all for the spark in a gypsy's eyes." The ongoing contrast between dark and light is a theme which recurs through the album and is equally matched by the arrangements which range from the light and delicate to the more sombre and to the more sprightly.

Daria's own compositions, 'In Lunenburg' and 'Made Of Light' end the album in contrasting styles. The former is based on a tale of falling in love and visa problems, developing from a gentle opening into something which verges on quite forceful (perhaps the frustrations of visa applications emerging!) before another frenzied accordion led jig, while the latter is a true album closer. After all that's come before, it's a calm and exquisitely played piece and with a personal dedication of the song from Daria, one which obviously has some deep emotional significance which is recounted in its lyric. All the three backing instruments play their part subtly without one dominating over another and includes probably Kate's finest dulcimer part of the whole record. There are some lovely songs on the record but for the icing on the cake, they've saved the best till last.

Having won the 2014 Love Folk award for most exciting live performance, 'Waters So Deep' can't fail to win plaudits for the recorded version of Kara. Apparently 'kara' means many things in many languages - black in Turkish, punishment in Russian and caramel pancake in French. It's a perfect name for a band which explores both the darker side yet has enough life and energy vibrant energy as well as some restrained emotional quality.

So imagine the scene. A Saturday night on primetime TV with Family Fortunes when Les Dennis announces: "We asked a hundred people to name a song based on Russian folklore." Top answer? 'Ra Ra Rasputin' by Boney M? . Hopefully the splendid debut album by Kara will go some way to putting that right.

Mike Ainscoe