The Coach House Company
Album: The Coach House Company EP
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 5
Website: http://thecoachhousecompany.co.uk

You know that moment of uh oh you get when the subject of a review you've written comes up and the band mention they haven't seen it....So before you email a witty reply you do the decent thing and double check your facts before going off on a high horse (Political journalists please note this one, check the story is true before you print or broadcast it verbatim) and discover that whilst the piece is on the test server, it never made the journey across cyberspace to the production server, so instead of having a smug grin, you end up writing a paragraph of apology at the start of a review, well here it is.

The Coach House Company are a five piece that have been coming to prominence across the London and South East Folk scene in recent years. They draw inspiration from the folk traditions of all parts of the British Isles and combine them with other music styles, such as jazz and klezmer to produce a sound that whilst drawing on the past, really is a folk sound for the 21st and one that stretches across the acoustic spectrum.

Whilst most of the songs and tune sets come from what is widely regarded as 'the tradition', "All About Eve" is penned from within the band, blending in so as to feel that you're sure that you must have heard it before, if only you could remember what collection it came from.

The band are essentially a folk string quartet, fiddle, cello, guitar and bass, with the addition of a trumpet section and have the luxury of both male and female singers to take the lead on songs of to take harmony vocals, but it's against the stunning instrumental sections that you really find the impact, this is especially true with well known covers, such as "Wild Mountain Thyme". Recording such a well known song can be a bit of a double edged sword, it does provide an easy reference point, but also invites easy comparisons, The Coach House Company come through the test with heads held well high.

All the band are consummate performers of their respective instrument, which makes the instrumental interludes something really special and one of the reasons that their live shows are being spoken about with such praising tones.

"The Coach House Company EP" is the debut release from this combo, but it should be enough to put the band on the lips not only of people who follow the folk idiom, but also to a wider audience that appreciates its music delivered with a certain verve.

Neil King