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Salt House

Venue: The Pleasance Theatre
Town: Edinburgh
Date: 5/12/14
Website: http://www.salthousemusic.com

Scottish acoustic four-piece Salt House have quickly established themselves as one of the leading contemporary folk bands in the UK. Their debut album, 2013's "Lay Your Dark Low", with its compelling mix of original songs and bold and imaginative covers of traditional material, provided a breath of fresh air and was enthusiastically received by critics and fans alike. Although the band has only been together for a relatively short time, its four members have a wealth of experience between them, spread over a wide range of solo work and collaborative projects. The three Scots in the band, Siobhan Miller (vocals and harmonium), Lauren MacColl (viola and fiddle) and Euan Burton (double bass), are joined by Liverpudlian Ewan MacPherson (guitars, mandolin, banjo and vocals).

The prospect of an uplifting set from Salt House was a comfort for the audience as they arrived at Edinburgh's Pleasance Theatre on a bitterly cold December evening. Indeed, any thoughts of the cold weather outside were quickly banished as Salt House were given a warm and enthusiastic welcome to the stage. The opening song, "She's Like A Swallow", began with some beautifully understated fiddle from Lauren MacColl and delicately soaring vocals, showcasing Siobhan Miller's pure and crystal clear voice. Euan Burton's urgent double bass lines and some driving acoustic guitar from Ewan MacPherson upped the tempo midway through the song and the last verse was sung above some dramatic fiddle and guitar interplay. "Strong Dark Souls" featured a mesmerising fiddle intro and soothing vocals, giving way to driving bass riffs, jangling guitar and a memorable chorus.

The band put their own stamp on the traditional classic "Katie Cruel", which was notable for a steadily building tempo, a beguiling vocal, a majestic fiddle refrain and closing guitar and double bass exchanges which called to mind the signature sound of Pentangle. "Freshwater Salt" was one of a number of impressive original songs, featuring gorgeously lilting vocals, underpinned by atmospheric fiddle, and a stirring chorus (with some audience participation).

The playful and breezy "Little Birdie" introduced an element of Americana, with an enchanting vocal, elegantly swooping and soaring fiddle and pulsating double bass overlaid with fluid guitar licks. "The Seer And The Lord", a gripping and cautionary tale of an ill-fated prophet who met a grisly end, featured a hypnotic vocal, interspersed with dramatic and colourful bursts of fiddle. The gently insistent and rhythmic guitar and bass intro to "Setting Sun" paved the way for another fine vocal performance and a towering viola solo.

The set closed with a rousing cover of "Night Train", written by David Francey, a Canadian singer-songwriter. Following a shimmering guitar intro, this song settled into an infectious groove, with swinging fiddle, jazzy vocals and more sparkling and Pentangle-esque bass and guitar interplay. As this gig was part of a full evening's entertainment, by way of a fund-raiser for the Soundhouse Organisation, time constraints meant that there was, sadly, no encore. However, this impeccable performance underlined Salt House's growing reputation as one of the best live bands on the contemporary folk scene. This truly is an outstanding group of musicians, collectively and individually, whose album and live shows come highly recommended.

David Ferguson