Darren Black
Album: Lord Abergavenny's Hills
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.darrenblack.net

Darren Black really surprised me. I had an image in my head before launching the album on how I thought he would sound and how I thought his music would be and I was wrong. Darren has a very strong and distinctive voice with a wonderful atmospheric air to it that just came as a complete surprise.

From the opening of 'The Head Man' I knew this was going to be a very enjoyable, very different and unique sounding album. I think what really separates this album from the flock is also the poetic skill added into the mix.

The best folk albums are always those that are rooted in traditional themes, so in this case, Welsh mining, gives that particular box a massive check. The next on the list is confident and unique vocals, as already mentioned.

The final is of course the mastery of an instrument (or instruments). Darren certainly gets a tick here too. His playing on each track is well thought out, planned and perfectly executed, with nicely fitting additional support by Lennie Harvey on 'Where The Rainbow Meets The Sweet Sunshine' and 'Tell It To The Cow'.

There is a good mix of vocal tracks and some instrumental beauties thrown in for good measure. The titular 'Lord Abergavenny's Hills' and 'The Pit Wheel' are good gems that actually give a sense of mystery in context with the rest of the album.

Darren gives a good well rounded album all with a great signature stamp throughout even in varying types of songs, with instrumental and slow paced tunes and we you get foot tapping faster paces songs like 'Hats Off To The Rest' just to really show off.

Paul Rawcliffe