Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys
Album: Laugh, Dance & Sing
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 13
Website: http://www.gordiemackeeman.com

From the opening bars of Ridin' The Fiddle you know what you're in for. This blistering fiddle tune is a mighty fine opening statement and whets my appetite for what's to follow.

Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys are renowned for their high-quality musicianship and astounding stagecraft and have been wowing audiences around the world.

And this album of mostly original songs will only further cement their growing reputation.

The quality of the playing shines through, whether it's on the lilting Cavan Road or the great syncopation on Dusty Derby, it's littered throughout this album.

One minute you are enjoying the subtle nuances, the next you are trying hard to stop your feet from self-combusting.

The band hail from Canada. They are Gordie MacKeeman (fiddle, cello, acoustic guitar, feet percussion, vocals), Peter Cann (guitars, banjo, vocals) Thomas Webb (guitars, bass, banjo, steel guitar, vocals), and Mark Geddes (bass, percussion, piano, mandolin). They'll be touring the UK next February and March.

Listening to their frenetic version of Black Mountain Rag made me smile. The musicianship is simply breathtaking. One of the banjo breaks is simply spell-binding. Now that's a sentence I have never been expected to write!

There is just so much variety on this album. There are obvious bluegrass and Western Swing influences and there's even a touch of surf on Hot Vacation.

The songs come thick and fast. Listen to the sweet fiddle on Maritime Lullaby. Simply sublime.

Interestingly, the band's cover Tom Petty's King's Highway is closer to the original than you might think. The very petite stripped back Bake Sale is charming. And before you know it we've reached the final song: the Pickle King Polka allows the band to stretch out in a final flourish.

The album is aptly called Laugh, Dance & Sing - I for one won't disagree with that. My only gripe is two of the songs are very short (1.03 and 1.10) so it would have been nice to have perhaps an extra tune or two. But that's perhaps that me nailing my colours to the mast. I could listen to these guys over and over.

Now forgive me, I have to listen to it all again.

John Knighton