North Cape

The name Nic Zuppardi may be unfamiliar but this master of the mandolin has, for over a decade, been part of various ensembles and projects in both the UK and Sweden and is best known as one third of The Shackleton Trio. For this, his debut solo album, Zuppardi has assembled a talented and sympathetic backing group – Alex Patterson on fiddle, Christina Alden on guitar and Calum McKemmie on double bass. With this line-up the sound is not too far removed from that of The Shackleton Trio, but Zuppardi is able to take centre-stage in the eight tracks on North Cape, all but one of which are his own compositions.

Fans of Chris Thile (of Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers fame) will enjoy North Cape and Zuppardi's playing often calls to mind the flowing subtlety of Thile's style. The opening tracks evoke the landscape of Zuppardi's East Anglian roots, while as the album unfolds more transatlantic flavours become apparent with tunes like ‘Halfway Pond’; and the playful ‘Alpardi McPatterzup’ – is that an anagram? – hints at Zuppardi's love of bluegrass and old-time music.