On a Good Day

After a seven-year hiatus, Belgian flute player Yves Barbieux returns as part of Polk Trio, bringing together his flute and bagpipes with the diatonic accordion of Jonathan De Neck and the banjo and guitar of Steve Louvat. The popular folk musician once again offers joyous Celtic trad music mixed in with contemporary rhythms and bluegrass inflections. The result is a feel-good instrumental concoction spread over 14 songs that are tight without ever being ground-breaking. ‘Rødgrød Med Fløde’ (Red Porridge with Cream) exemplifies the joyous exchanges between three veterans of the Belgian folk scene.

For 15 years Barbieux and De Neck were at the heart of Les Déménageurs, a popular group devoted to young audiences. The flautist also led the Urban Trad band to international success with four albums that highlighted his virtuoso talent on the Galician bagpipe and flute. With this latest album, the three musicians enrich their repertory with loops that include finger drumming, marimba, light piano and lively percussions. The result? A solid, if never transcending release, in contrast to the group's live performances, which echo the promo hype around the album: ‘Feel[s] like a party among friends – light, lively and sometimes moving.’