The Lost Brothers
Album: New Songs Of Dawn And Dust
Label: Lojinx
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.thelostbrothersband.com

There's something comfortingly familiar about the music of The Lost Brothers, an Irish duo comprising Mark McCausland and Oisin Leech. New Songs Of Dawn And Dust is their fourth album release, although it's my first taste of their compelling but accessible brand of troubadour songcraft, a collection of nine songs and three instrumental interludes.

The press handout implies that the duo have moved away from the folk-Americana mode of earlier albums and onto classic folk-pop stylings. And although the duo's accomplished vocal harmonies are often reminiscent of an understated take on Simon & Garfunkel, the mood and feel of their compositions is quite often redolent of the Everlys or Buddy Holly. The breezy Days Ahead is a good example, while the ensuing Derridae is a more gently rolling number of considerable charm, and pretty darned memorable too (the hook seems to call to mind the Kinks' Days too). There's an appealing tenderness to the wistful Soldier's Song, and the deliciously coordinated Can I Stay With You rather harks back to the classic Carter Family era, while Walking Blues is a plaintive reflection (yet nothing like the impression conjured by the title) and the broody Poor Poor Man could almost be a lost Johnny Cash number.

The closing moments of the disc are quieter, with the delicate acoustica of Gold And Silver and the piano-backed (rather Harry Nilsson-like) ballad Stone's Throw both leaving a lasting impression. Hotel Loneliness (a Nick Power song) is the only track not written by the core duo. Instrumental support for the boys is subtle and sympathetically managed, featuring the talents of Nick Power, Jack Prince, Martin Smith and the album's producer Bill Ryder-Jones (who'd recently toured with the Arctic Monkeys as a guest guitarist).

This really likeable album delivers a healthy bunch of songs, well put together and well put across; and even though I'm not sure the interludes have quite the desired impact, the brothers don't ever sound lost to me - rather, assured and confident about the direction in which they're heading with each song. Note that the lads are touring the UK this month, and yeah they should be worth catching.

David Kidman