Urban Folk Quartet
Album: Off Beaten Tracks
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.theufq.com

"Off Beaten Tracks" is the second studio album by the hugely talented Urban Folk Quartet [UFQ].

Firstly, some biographical information. Paloma Trigas is a highly accomplished, classically trained violinist who,at the age of 11, won the Yamaha Rock and Pop Award for composition. Paloma has been a member of the Carlos Nunez Band and has played alongside the likes of The Chieftains, Sharon Shannon and Altan. She has even played on a Rolling Stones recording!

The UFQ is blessed with having not one but two fantastic fiddle players, the other being Joe Broughton. Like Paloma,Joe is classically trained and also plays guitar and mandolin. Joe is, perhaps, best known for being a member of The Albion Band from 1997 to 2003 alongside The Guv'nor, Ashley Hutchings. He has also performed with Bellowhead and plays in duos with his brother Ben and Kevin Dempsey in addition to the UFQ.

The band's percussionist is the amazing Tom Chapman,master of the cajon [a traditional instrument from Peru,used in Afro-Peruvian and Flamenco music]. Tom combines the cajon with hand percussion with amazing dexterity and infuses the band's sound with traditional and jazz and rock rhythms.

Last but not least is oud and guitar player Frank Moon,who is a lecturer in music at Coventry University. The oud is a fretless, pear-shaped stringed instrument used in North African and Middle Eastern music.

Enough of the introductions, what about the album?

Well, like their first recording, this is a stunning collection of songs and tunes. It was recorded in 2011 and in the words of the band is " a travelogue of musical snapshots from the road". It is indeed a travelogue as we are treated to a dizzying fusion of styles including Irish, Turkish, Spanish and Gypsy Jazz to name but a few. The majority of the tracks are sets of tunes but there are three songs. Let's start with those.

The first song is "Dink's Song" which has an interesting story behind it. It was collected by John Lomax in 1908.He heard it being sung by a woman called Dink as she washed clothes in the Brazos River. The song tells the story of a woman who is deserted by her lover. UFQ's version is beautifully sung by Tom and segues into "One River Reel".

The second song is "Rosina's Story ", an original song, with lovely vocals by Paloma, which tells of the plight of a Galician woman who travels to South America to look for work but finds none and returns home.

The final song is "Dandelion", a quiet, simple song, again beautifully sung.

All of the instrumental tracks demonstrate the amazing versatility, virtuosity and vitality of the band, right from the opening set Jaleo Bus/ Up in the Air [the first of which is apparently about a Spanish bus ride].

"The Missing Jig " was written by Paloma about being away from loved ones and has an evocative melody and fine interplay between fiddle and guitar. Another great tune is "Polca De Areeiras ".

Fans of Irish music will appreciate" Miss Crawford "which was collected by Chief O'Neill [ Francis O'Neill from County Cork who emigrated to Chicago and rose to become Chief of Police from 1901 to 1905].

One my favourite tracks is" Zephyr/Storm Chasers" which features Frank's exotic oud and some stunning percussion by Tom.

"Kiz Kulesi " is a Turkish-influenced piece named after The Maiden's Tower which stands on an island in the Bosporus off Istanbul. The tower is so named because a sultan built it after hearing a prophecy that his daughter would be killed by a snake on her 18th birthday. The daughter lived safely in the tower but on her 18th birthday her father brought her a basket of fruit which, unknown to him, had a snake hiding in it. You can guess the rest!

To conclude,this is a superb album,highly recommended. PS Do try to see UFQ live, they are amazing.

Peter Cowley