the Young'Uns
Album: When Our Grandfathers Said No
Label: Navigator
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.theyounguns.co.uk/

The music of the North East has been increasing in prominence in recent years, artists like The Unthanks, The Mighty Doonans and Megson have all played their part in taking the folk music and songs of the region to a wider audience, as well as adding new songs to the canon. Well The Young'Uns who have been bubbling under look like they have recorded their breakthrough album with their new album, "When Our Grandfathers Said No".

This Tees based trio, Sean Cooney, David Eagle and Michael Hughes pay homage to their home region with songs like, "The Battle Of Stockton", "Harbour Voice" and "Love In A Northern" as well as reflecting on aspects of what makes the region what it is/was via some of its industrial base and as this is the Tees, it's the chemical industry rather than mining. It's not for nothing that folks from the Middlesbrough area are known colloquially as Smoggies. There's a Middlesbrough link in the production of the album as well with Megson's Stu Hanna taking control behind the desk.

The region is also famous for its shipbuilding and naval tradition and once again these get name checked during the songs, you can really get the sense of pride that these guys have in their roots and that comes out in the passion of the performance.

Having highlighted the local aspects of the album, it's important that I tell you why you should go for this if you're not from that neck of the wood. Primarily that would be because this is a dramatic album that is exceptionally well performed, features tight arrangements and good honest harmonies as well as distinctive solo performances.

I've been fortunate enough to catch the band live and there is a real spark to their performance, this album captures that spark and really gets it smouldering, "When Our Grandfathers Said No" is definite more than worth considering saying yes to.

Neil King