Zonnewachter

The second album from Wouter en de Draak (Wouter and the Dragon) is a timely reminder of the beauty of live music and dance. Firmly rooted in the Dutch/Belgian folk dance scene, the duo consists of the versatile and prolific Wouter Kuyper on melodeon and bagpipes with Joris Alblas on guitar. Together they present what they call ‘balfolk with an Irish touch.’ Indeed, the guitar has more than a whiff of John Doyle or Tony McManus, and finds a pleasant home among the assorted balfolk, Breton and wider European folk dances.

On this outing, as with their debut, the duo are joined by several guests, broadening the sound to include whistle, trumpet, percussion and hurdy-gurdy. Unsurprisingly for balfolk, all tracks are rhythmically infectious, with helpful dance names in the titles for the uninitiated. The album’s overall live feel gives rhythmic sparkle and a gorgeous delicacy in places, especially where the band steps off the gas, such as in ‘Mazurmeau’. The group is also capable of turning simple melodies into engaging stories, a great example being ‘Costa Gwad’ where the duo are joined by Roeland Uijtdewilligen with shrewd percussion. Simple and fun, helpful for getting back to life on planet earth.