Press

Salient Magazine review, October 2001
Reviewed by Simon Sweetman

Jacky Tar have long transcended the typical "Irish Band" label - for full proof look no further than this album, the group's second, but first "professional effort" if you like. (Most local bands are more than familiar with the concept of releasing what is essentially a demo as first long-player). The development from that first album to 'Defenestration' has been charted through hard slog on the gigging front, including overseas touring.

But of course we're still talking Celtic flavour - thankfully. The band display a real flare in their imaginative re-workings of traditional tunes, mixing them in to original songs - rather than doing what is often done with Kiwi Celtic bands, that being the old trick of flicking one or two jigs into a set of originals and covers (standard pub fare). Here you'll hear "Hogties Reel" and "Lanigan's Ball" - but you'll hear them brilliantly encased in a rocking tight band sound - eclectic flesh clinging to the bare bones of Celtic tradition, wrapping stock rhythms in exciting, durable melodies.

Most importantly the energy is here (always a requirement for anything even vaguely associated with Celtic music!) and it really is a solid band sound - all six musicians delivering fine performances across a dozen diverse tunes. Opener, "Rovin' Journeyman" gets the party under way with a fine Drunken-Sailor tempo, and "Barry" rocks slowly with an almost Led-Zep-sounding drum lilt. Grant Shearer's whistle and pipes, Sarah McFadyen's fiddle and Nick Swan's banjo and mandolin weave wonderfully around the rhythms, Andy Kerr's guitar and vocals anchor the tunes (along with Manu Scott's great bass playing and Mo's more than solid drumming). Time on the road has done for Jacky Tar what any band would hope for; inspiration for new material and a tightening of the sound. Let them roll on down this road I say!

3.5 Stars

-ooOoo-

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