Rackhouse Pilfer: Love and Havoc

Only they will know if the music gained in the travelling, but Sligo band Rackhouse Pilfer saved their cents (and backing from crowd-funding site Fundit) and headed to Nashville to record their second album and their first with self-penned material. Described as a "bluegrass, folk, alt.country and Americana band", the six-piece Pilfers aren't short of energy, and they can play up a storm. This is reflected in the infectious enthusiasm that ripples through the more upbeat tracks such as Bright Lights, though arguably the slower material (Lorraine, Fallen Leaves) is more impressive. One obvious weakness is the lack of a distinctive singer – the vocals are shared – but the upside is that the voices blend well in harmony on the likes of A Sailing Song. The Irish influence remains strong amid all the Americana, not least on a frantic version of Shady Grove. rackhousepilfer.com
Download: Fallen Leaves, A Sailing Song