Barlowcree
Album: Holystone
Label: Safeplace
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.barlowcree.com

BarlowCree is a Cardiff-based folk-acoustic duo performing self-penned material and adaptations of traditional and contemporary folksongs. It comprises Liam Millinship from Newport and Jonny Matthew from Bradford, and thus it's fitting that the duo's name brings together two regional slang terms (from Yorkshire and South Wales respectively) for the safe, or immune, place during the game variously known as tig, touch or tag.

I guess you might say that BarlowCree play tag with your emotions a bit during this album, but otherwise I can't quite see the relevance of the concept. Be that as it may, what we have here is a well put-together collection mixing seven of the duo's craftsmanlike original compositions with three thoughtful and nicely managed adaptations of traditional songs (Newfoundland, The Blind Harper and Lord Franklin). Instrumentally they manage well on guitars, bazouki, guitar, bass, dulcimer and percussion, and their singing, whether individually or in harmony, is better than competent.

They're very adept as storytellers (check out their treatments of two Welsh folk tales, Mallt-y-Nos and The Devil And The Cobbler), but they come into their own on the album's bookending songs The Quay and My Heart Is Ashore (both depicting a love gone to sea) and especially the epic San José (recounting the plight of the Chilean miners); the gently touching All Is Well is a lovely anthem of reassurance and hope, emphasising the generally uplifting mood of the disc.

The positive and heartfelt nature of the duo's lyrics is by and large matched by a strong melodic content, often with a strong Show Of Hands feel to boot, so on this showing BarlowCree can be judged an act to watch out for. And they get extra brownie points for providing the song lyrics (and some brief notes) on their website.

David Kidman