Greenrose Faire
Album: Feed The Flames
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.greenrosefaire.com

Medieval folk rock first emerged in the early 70s, the first stirrings in the UK coming from John Renbourn and Shirley and Dolly Collins, but perhaps finding its first full expression in the work of Amazing Blondel, Gryphon and, of course, Steeleye's Top 20 version of Gaudete before later being incorporated into the prog folk movement with outfits like Jethro Tull and Renaissance.

It's enjoyed something of a limited revival in recent times, Maddy Prior returning to the era with her work with The Carnival Band, but, more significantly in the music of Richie Blackmore's folk project, Blackmore's Night, Galley Beggar and this bunch, a Celtic folk rock outfit from Finland who, fronted by Salla Rimmi, both look and frequently sound the part and clearly have to ensure the keep their diaries free for the festival season.

That said, Too Hot To Stop, the urgent opening number on this, their third album, has an almost mazurka feel to it and there's a definite hint of Balkan gypsy running through things (accentuated by Niilo Sirola's bouzouki) with the rousing closing number, Laulan, Luritan, seeing drummer Tomi Hyttinen singing in Finnish while Hanna Heinonen fiddles away.

Elsewhere they bring hurdy gurdy, bodhran (which drives along Tell You A Story's account of sacred places and forgotten times), harmonium, spoons, chanter and kazoo to the party on songs that feature lyrics about fighting against unjust laws (Freedom), celebrating down the local (The Tavern), and lost villages (a swayalong Long Time Ago) and fortune tellers, shining knights and maidens with long hair (Running Through My Dreams). All solid genre stuff, often underscoring the fact that founder members Sirola and Hyttinen used to play in a hard rock outfit with the usual fantasy driven numbers.

They skip along merrily on Together We're Strong, a Naa naa naaing swayer that would probably go down a treat on the village green at threshing time as the yokels link arms and bump flagons, but the meat of their medieval sound can be found in the spooked, misty Here Waiting and the title track with its machine gun snare beats and a fiery fiddle that at times puts me in mind of East of Eden. Niche market fare, maybe, but it'll guarantee much revelry on Glastonbury Tor and the like this summer.

Mike Davies