By Kevin Scott
There’s something of a folk explosion happening in Scotland right now. It’s been happening a while, a few centuries to be perfectly accurate, but of late, mixing that traditional folk sound with more contemporary indie and rock stylings, there’s a burgeoning chart-bothering movement in the ascendency, and it is into this world that Dante emerge. Not just any band, Dante have previous, featuring songwriter Seán McLaughlin from Birthday Suit, along with Vicky Gray, formerly of Aberfeldy - and it has been produced by Frightened Rabbit’s Andy Monaghan.
All of which means hopes for debut album 'Wake' are high, so where does that leave us? Well, If you're not in the mood for dancing within ten seconds of opening track ‘Son', then we need to have a word. Much in the mould of Frightened Rabbit with a liberal dash of trad folk thrown in, this is an uplifting, boisterous release.
"Every cut in your shin / I'd put alcohol in / just to watch you / bite down on your lip" sings McLaughlin on 'No Original Art', one of the albums highlights thanks to a brilliant duet between McLaughlin and Gray. The interplay between this pair cannot be underplayed; Gray’s backing vocal always hitting the mark, harmonising beautifully with McLaughlin, both unashamedly Scottish throughout, reminiscent of Jen Reeves' work with Malcolm Middleton. The melancholy chorus backed by sweeping swathes of guitar is shiver inducing.
The running order flits between party tunes, and more reflective folk songs. The list of instruments on display is equally impressive for the five-piece band with fiddles, synths, glocks and mandolins all featuring.
From the piano driven multi-layered 'Northern Lights' with its orchestral violins and strummed acoustics to the more reflective ‘Island', which uses the same intruments to create an entirely different sound, the musicianship is vibrant and compelling.
Title track ‘Wake' is just a fine example of modern folk songwriting, starting with one man picking his way through a folk melody as he laments the demise of a coastal town, (There's nothing left in this northern harbour / the heart it left a long time ago / every boat is named after someone's daughter) before it bursts into life.
Lyrically, 'Wake' is rich with imagery, themes of desolation and the land apparent, while many lines are just gems, such as 'Gravity's' "The Ferris wheel outside is throwing colours across the sky…"
Some albums come around with expectations while others just saunter over and slap your face before kissing it better. 'Wake' is a joyous addition to the latter category
