Bere

It's impossible not to like the mighty Saltfishforty, comprising of Orcadians Douglas Montgomery on fiddle, viola, guitar and mandolin and Brian Cromarty on guitar, mandolin and vocals. For the past 15 years their infectious blend of playful, feisty rhythms and superb musicianship have graced the traditional stage and rocked a good few venues.

There is a palpable Nordic vibe to Bere, which is named after the bannocks (flatbreads) brought over by Vikings in the eighth century. Opener ‘Whisky’ is full of characteristically brisk reels and frisky jigs. There is even a bit of swing in ‘Tired’, a playful track that captures the duo's sense of fun and camaraderie. It's in those reels and jigs that the guys come into their own however. The self-penned ‘Birds’ and ‘Boss’ illustrate just what a fine pair of tunesmiths Cromarty and Montgomery are. There is tenderness too; the moody and majestic ‘Mad’ features a strathspey in tribute to Montgomery's great grand-uncle, who was killed at Passchendaele 100 years ago. The duo's infectious and exhilarating rhythms are as fresh and as exciting as ever. Superb stuff.