James Delarre and Saul Rose
Album: Cabin Fever
Label: Infuse
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.saulrosejamesdelarre.bandcamp.com

One of the best things about the British folk scenes is those occurrences where musicians bump into each other at festivals or gatherings, have one too many pints and make tipsy plans to collaborate further down the line. We, the listener, are the main beneficiaries of such liaisons because it means we get a veritable glut of side projects spinning out of the most well renowned groups and collectives and a ton of great music as a result.

The meeting of Saul Rose (Faustus, Whapwheasal) and James Delarre (Mawkin, Jim Moray) at Sidmouth Folk Week is just one such occurrence that has graced us with their rather splendid 'Cabin Fever' album. Having being unceremoniously lumped together to provide tunes for the Morris Offspring dance troupe at said gathering, the pair then ended up supporting the troupe for 2 years over which time they shared a plethora of music, tunes and ideas. Finally in 2012 they found time to get their heads down and put together an albums worth of music lifted from the previous 5 years of playing together.

Released in 2014 to little fanfare the album is having a little extra air blown into it following some notable festival appearances over the summer of 2015 - and as well it should! 'Cabin Fever's is every bit as accomplished as you'd expect from a duo as talented and experienced as this and a thoroughly jolly set from start to finish. Predominantly based round tunes the album does boast a couple of notable vocal flourishes, particularly on the rendition of 'Moreton Bay' which is about as upbeat a song about the hardships of being an Australian convict as you're ever likely to hear.

'Cabin Fever' never was or is likely to have the wider appeal of the Rose and Delarre's regular gigs but for staunch fans of any of their other bands there's a real treat in store here. Long may folk musicians keep criss-crossing and creating if this is the type of result we get!

Rob Fearnley