Unearth Repeat

Following on from his Island Records’ debut, The Unfinished Violin, England's premier fiddler releases a small band album with a big sound, featuring the acoustic and electric guitars of Jack Rutter and Louis Campbell, the double bass of Ben Nicholls, the keyboards of Dave Mackay and Sweeney's own peerless dexterity on violin. He emphasises that this is a tune set ‘without agenda, mission or theme.’ Some have traditional sources, but Sweeney has set about them like a cut-up artist in sound, drawing on fragments, variations and reversals of what's in the source, and remaking them from the ground up. Mixed in with these are originals uncovered on walks and car journeys, those suspended bits of time that can be gold dust to composers and players like Sweeney.

The album is beautiful, perfectly formed and executed. The subtle currents of Mackay's electronic keys and Campbell's electric guitar are the perfect suitors to join Sweeney's lead runs. Highlights among the first seven pieces comprising Unearth include the lyrical, lilting ‘Maid of the Mill’, the guitar-led ‘Winter 350’ and ‘Dark Arches’, while Repeat's seven pieces, including ‘Princess Royal’ and ‘The General’, draw down an array of musical colours.