Utopia and Wasteland

No prizes for guessing to where the ‘utopia and wasteland’ of the title refers. It comes as no surprise that Greg Russell and fiddler Ciaran Algar's fourth studio album is something of a state-of-the-nation address, given that this young northern English duo have already stamped their mark with award-winning sociopolitical folk songs and that it comes hot on the heels of Greg Russell's solo album Inclined to be Red and his protest-song project, Shake the Chains.

The pair's talents come to the fore in eight original compositions, juxtaposed with traditional tunes and covers and weaving in fascinating histories such as the story of Walter Tull, the first black footballer in the English top flight. Such unearthed stories on the album are offset by very immediate responses to issues like the Grenfell Tower disaster and the construction of the HS2 train line.

Throughout, Algar's effortless fiddle style stands out, though he also plays bodhrán, tenor banjo and electric tenor guitar. Russell's insistent voice takes the lead, while Algar contributes vocals on the arresting ‘We are Leaving’. Producer Mark Tucker adds highly effective bass and backing vocals on tracks such as ‘Seven Hills’, bringing a greater depth. Utopia and Wasteland is a confident statement.