Dance of the Copper Trail

For husband and wife duo Oka Vanga's 2014 debut Pilgrim, they recorded a set of beautifully pure, mainly original instrumental guitar tunes. For their follow-up, things have been bulked up somewhat, with vocals and minimal strings and percussion added to the mix. That's not to say the record is crowded: Angela Meyer and William Cox are far too experienced a pair of musicians to let that happen unintentionally. ‘Capercaillie’ gets a little busy and ‘My Sweet Guitar’ is almost twee, but when Oliver Copeland's double bass thrums in on ‘Ashes to the Wind’, balance is restored and this concise, meticulous album regains momentum.

The vocals and instrumental arrangements have an organic feel and the themes of place, nature and travel are writ large, as is folklore and hope, with Meyer's lyrics displaying a talent for conveying emotion and joy in the natural world. Also complementing the songs is Patsy Reid's fiddle, which is played considerately throughout (beautifully on ‘Rose of the Hill’) and adds much to this wholly enjoyable and unexpectedly profound set.