Boss Morris

The self-titled debut from Boss Morris soars with all the melancholy folk beauty of a Red Kite in a wintry Cotswold sky. From the first bow of fiddle on opening track ‘Filberts’, the enchanting energy that defines this record is clear. A collective of female creatives from Stroud in Gloucestershire, Boss Morris share a progressive vision of morris dancing that strives to boost social engagement. The group aims to raise interest in this ancient folk dance and reclaim the narrative around Englishness. Recorded live, the instrumental album fuses fiddle, viola, English concertina and harmonium – played by Sam Sweeney, Miranda Rutter and Rob Harbron – with traditional bells, sticks… and dancing. Expect spellbinding harmonies and soaring folk melodies on every track. Conveying the spirit of music designed for live situations is not easy but it has been nailed here. Boss Morris proves that you can honour tradition while moving things forward. If stripped-back English folk is your thing, this will be a joy.