Bellowhead
Album: Broadside
Label: Navigator
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.bellowhead.co.uk

Looking the sleeve and title of "Broadside" I was expecting it to be slightly more nautical in nature, but given the general level of debauchery across the album I'm prepared to forgive them that little foible. That's not to say that this album is devoid of the sea, it ain't, there's just not as much of it as you'ld expect.

The album follows the tried and test method of taking classic traditional folk songs giving them a big band, folk orchestra twist. It's got them recognised as one of the best folk bands of the twenty first century, both for their albums and their live work, they've cluttered the mantelpiece with good reason so why change a winning formula?

The thing that sets Bellowhead from the pack is the way they arrange the songs, the twists and turns they apply to familiar. There is a real excitement about heading out on a journey and being taken down the highways and byways and for that we have Pete Flood and Jon Boden to thank for the navigation. Boden also contributes the only original song to the album, "Dockside Rant"

Bellowhead are a high octane band, but astute enough to let you pause for breath before pulling you along by the ear again. From "Byker Hill" to "Go My Way" and all points in between, this is an album that is almost guaranteed not to just raise Lazurus, but to get him up dancing.

My personal favourite is their spin on the "Old Dun Cow" probably the most licentious song on the album. "Broadsides" delivers plenty of bangs as it lets rip in spectacular style, time to build an extension to the mantelpiece me thinks.

Neil King