Moch

Taking their name from the Gaelic dlùth, meaning closeness, this exciting new quintet from Glasgow deliver a well considered debut rich in traditional tracks but flavoured by contemporary sounds. Throughout, polka, jig and reels are served up with the sounds of funk, rock and pop. Title-track, ‘Moch’ (Dawn), opens the album with an atmospheric refrain before hitting the drums with a pulsating little tune. It’s a fine start to a stimulating listen from a talented group of young musicians. ‘Am Politician’ picks up the pace with a fun little polka before settling into a sweaty set of jigs and reels, while ‘Bàgh Dubh’ takes things into a more moody, almost filmic direction, with a pounding rhythm of strings.

Predominantly instrumental, Moch is a mix of traditional and self-penned tunes, many composed by the band’s fiddler Moilidh NicGriogair. Joseph McCluskey provides welcome vocals on ‘Ràcan’ while the rest of the band provide additional vocals on closer ‘Bràighe Loch Iall’, a beautifully haunting and emotive conclusion to an atmospheric album. Is there enough here to ensure DLÙ stand out among many other similar such bands? That question remains, but taken on their own merit the quintet are well worth a listen.