Éamonn Coyne & Kris Drever: Story Map

Lau's Kris Drever and Salsa Celtica's Éamonn Coyne reconvene for a second album, after 2007's Honk Toot Suite. The pair still cleave to a low-key, organic sound, with Drever's Orkney heritage colouring his relaxed vocals, particularly on The Isle
of France. Eliza Carthy lends robust backing vocals to Drever's reading of Farewell to Stromness, a gorgeous rambling tale
of whalers departing terra firma for the wide ocean. Drever's fine The Goat Walk is delicately sandwiched between a lovely air (Mickey Finn's) and an old-time fiddle tune (Abe's Retreat). This is where the pairing of guitar and banjo comes into its own. Unforced and unflustered, it's music with nothing to prove and all day to do it. Intermittently rambling, with no particular place to go, Story Map is modest in scope and long on slowly unfurling surprises. revealrecords.co.uk

Download tracks: Goat Walk, Farewell to Stromness