The Wife of Urban Law

This splendid set from fiddler Peter Knight, with guitarist Roger Flack and percussionist Sacha Trochet, oozes confidence from the start, but it's worth focusing on two highlights. ‘Green Gravel’ and ‘Lament for the Wife of Urban Law’ are notable for contrasting and complementing one another perfectly. The former derives from a traditional children's circle game around which Knight fits a tight fiddle refrain, while Trochet adds beats and Flack embellishes with guitar textures. This version came from singer Fay Hield, but the cyclical playing, along with repetitive lyrics create an original and hypnotic song.

‘Urban Law’, Knight's improvised-sounding solo instrumental, counters that tune by refusing to take a simple form; instead it shifts and changes its mood from gentle and quiet to jarring and spiky, reminiscent of something from a Nick Cave and Warren Ellis soundtrack. Its stark minimalism boldly upends the innocence of the previous song, throwing a beautiful curveball. These tracks exemplify the imaginative, questing spirit that runs right through this striking album.