Bellowhead have a great reputation as the saviours of British folk, bringing together a brass section, traditional tunes and a jolliness that eschews the dour stereotype of Aran-sweaters and fingers-in-the-ear. There are moments of joyful abandon and impressive musicianship, spanning music from salsa to woozy Balkan beats. Of course, they are doing nothing that folk-rockers haven’t been doing since the late 1960s and the lack of grace and subtlety makes Matachin sporadically blokey and crass.
The best three tracks are, surprisingly, the three short vignettes that seem to have some of the gorgeous melancholy that suffuses the best of English folk. Against the constant shouting about whiskey and heart’s delights, these miniatures are moving and discreet. The other love songs- including the mournful Brunton Town- are given more gusto than sensitivity, crushing the sensuality beneath a straight-forward vocal and exuberant soloing.
Bellowhead’s virtues are jaunty energy and not taking themselves too seriously, as well as a virtuosity and eclecticism that is rare within pop music. Folk music has always taken from many cultures and maintained a high quality of performance, which makes Bellowhead less interesting in a folk context. Yet in a rock context, they are suddenly masters of multiple genres and rhythms.
They have the same drunken, swirling passion that gave The Pogues the occasional hit and their use of acoustic and brass instrumentation gives them an almost orchestral depth. Yet their lack of groove or funk makes them less than engaging and, every now and again, redolent of a enthusiastic ceilidh band.
- Bellowhead - 1 December 2008
- The Vines - 17 June 2008
- Toyko Police Club - 17 June 2008