Twelfth Day
Album: The Devil Makes Three
Label: Orange Feathers
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.twelfthdaymusic.com

Having managed to miss their debut release, "Northern Quarter", back in 2010, I first came across Twelfth Day when they released "Fiere", a collaborative album with Gaelic singer, Joy Dunlop, an acquaintance that was further enforced with the duo's EP of cover versions, "Speak From The Start", which included an exciting interpretation of Blondie's "Sunday Girl" resplendent with interesting chord changes.

With the help of The National Lottery Fund, channelled through Creative Scotland, Twelfth Day have a new album, "The Devil Makes Three" out and ready to bring you a fine collection of songs and tunes.

One of the phrases that I've used on occasion is that a good folk album, whatever the tradition, should be a history lesson, a geography lesson and a murder, well to that , the duo, Catriona Price and Esther Swift, have managed to add an ecology lesson, an arts review and a story time or two and somehow still leave "The Devil Makes Three" feeling natural and uncluttered.

This is a highly enchanting album, as captivating as the Scots scenery that the girls grew up enjoying and as with that scenery there are bits that are majestic because of the sheer width of the views and a sky that goes on forever and there are bits that are enchanting because they're intimate and tucked away and need discovering.

There are also some really nice touches, "Young Sir" updates a number of songs about a lady fleeing Scotland meeting a man on the road and who ends up stealing his horse, to one of car theft, it's a nice touch and one that has parallels with the album as it updates and adds to the tradition.

If "Speak From The Start" was a calling card, let's hope "The Devil Makes Three" ends up kicking the door down, as it's an album well worthy of your attention.

Neil King