early bird // night owl

With their third album, early bird // night owl, Dowally deliver yet another exciting and eclectic release. Over the last five years Edinburgh-based Dan Abrahams (guitar, harmonium, piano, Rhodes, vocals, and double bass) and Rachel Walker (fiddle and vocals) have been gathering much praise for their progressive approach to folk music, which merges traditional, world music influences, jazz flourishes and Balkan rhythms. ‘Dance of the Swan’ plays with Eastern European exoticism while ‘Three Little Babes’ takes the traditional Appalachian song to create a tender, sweet little tune ending with a dark note. Tapping into the current trend for sea songs, there is also a haunting version of ‘Turkish Reverie’ here, with Walker’s sweet vocals delivering the song almost as if it were a lullaby.

The duo is not alone here though, with guest musicians Graham Coe (The Jellyman’s Daughter) on cello, mandolin, and vocals, Michael Starkey (Wayward Jane) on banjo and vocals and Phil Alexander (Moishe’s Bagel, Eliza Carthy) on accordion. early bird // night owl is a beautifully produced album. With a nice mix of tunes and songs, the album plays with some very enticing and curious sounds. A promising and thrilling album from the gifted duo.