The Bara Bara Band
Album: Escape From Clinch Mountain
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 13
Website: http://www.thebarabaraband.com

The roots of the Bara Bara Band entwine and twist like the spirit that infuses their songs. Derbyshire's Ruth Jacob, formerly one half of The Lorcas, teamed up with Rupert Browne of Juniper Leaf to form new duo, Rupert And Ruth, the guise under which they run Tooting Folk Club, adding Boris Ming, of The Precious Mings and Will Dobson, to complete the Bara Bara Band.

The band have a couple of extremely well received EPs behind them, but "Escape From Clinch Mountain" represents their first full length album and upon hearing it you realise that it's something that you hadn't realised that you had been missing, it's an album that immediately makes its self at home, pulls a chair up to the kitchen table, pours two fingers of whiskey and starts to regale you with fascinating tales, most of which stem from Rupert and Ruth.

The reason it goes for whiskey rather than bourbon is because this is an album that sits on the folk traditions of both sides of the Atlantic and whilst we're talking whiskey, this is not the mellow, peaty, elixir, nope this is the rough edged stuff that hits you with a real heat and definitely demands to be noticed and you're not sure what would happen if you spilt it on the table.

The instrumentation is strong and atmospheric and really supports the narrative, not just the melody, but the music really does help create the atmosphere that gives the story a context. It's uncluttered and clear, occasionally sparse, but always interesting and never leaving the songs shallow or feeling incomplete.

It's the story telling nature of the album that really gives the album it's strength and that's regardless of whether they've penned the songs themselves or are delivering one of the well chosen traditional tracks or the only cover on the album, Tucker Zimmerman's "Oregon", a song they very much make their own.

Actually there's something of the pioneer/adventurer about the album, it does have a wild feel to it, a real sense of freedom and whilst it draws on folk traditions it uses them to inspire and create a sound that is The Bara Bara Band.

"Escape From Clinch Mountain" is a highly distinctive and evocative album and it strikes me you'll spend a lot of time listening to it as there always seems to be a new quirk to discover.

Neil King