Hicks & Goulbourn
Album: Owl Cafe
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.hicksandgoulbourn.com/

I was favourably taken with this duo's eponymous (well, nearly) CD which I initially came across around 18 months ago, and the chance to hear its followup was eagerly grasped. I'm not being in the least uncharitable in saying this, but it would seem that things haven't changed much - musically at any rate - for Steve Hicks and Lynn Goulbourn since that debut disc, for, as I observed at that time, they exhibit a fantastic degree of expertise across a wide field.

One important difference between their first record and Owl Café is that for this new offering they are entirely alone in the studio, with only one track (a robustly imagined take on Wayfaring Stranger) employing any overdubbing at all (Steve's mandolin); for the rest, it's just one voice, almost always Lynn's (with a vocal harmony part on two tracks) and one guitar (or two guitars on a couple of tracks) - honing in with complete accuracy and honesty on the pure acoustic sound that is the trademark of their always-impressive live performances. The spread of material on the new disc is also still pretty much representative of the duo's live repertoire, which may at first glance seem mildly capricious but where an audience can reasonably expect the unexpected - and be highly satisfied with the result in virtually every case, or at very least not be disappointed. The principal difference between the couple's debut disc and Owl Café in terms of repertoire is that the latter delivers no fewer than seven of Lynn's self-penned songs, of which more detail below.

Refreshingly too, there's never a feeling that Steve and Lynn are trying too hard to make an impression, for theirs is an easy rolling virtuosity, with individual strong points well catered for in their capable arrangements. Steve's fingerstyle guitar work is brilliant, immensely assured and versatile yet driven by a sensitivity that's matched by fun in execution rather than a desire to show off at all costs; and he made all his own guitars too! Lynn's equally assured and ever-stylish vocal technique can handle almost any kind of song, from blues and spirituals to traditional numbers and her own compositions. The finest of the examples of the latter on this disc is undoubtedly Gone Are The Cobles, which deals poignantly with the demise of the fishing industry off the Northumberland coast; aside from Harry Ridley (paying homage to Lynn's former art teacher) and Stranger On A Bus, the remainder of Lynn's songs have an altogether lighter feel, upbeat or positive in tone with settings ranging from soft jazz to genial ragtime.

This time round, and perhaps surprisingly so in view of Steve's accomplished playing, the menu only serves up two brief instrumental items. But the total effect of Owl Café is that of a warmly welcoming, pleasing disc of adept and truthful music-making.

David Kidman