From the first few bars of the mammoth opening track ‘The Dream’ you are instantly hit with an eastern sound, with that sound making an appearance through much of the record. The unique crossover sound this band achieves is down to the massive array of different instruments used on this recording. Guitars, bagpipes, mandolins, hurdy gurdy, bouzouki, flute and various percussion instruments including a tabla for that defining eastern feel. Much of the music is reliant on a strong underlying groove that drives the pieces and gives a number of them a sort of edginess that, as the listener, certainly keeps you captivated. The vocal numbers on here are excellent, using the fine voice of founder member Maya Preece to great effect. The track ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ is probably my favourite on the entire record. It still keeps the underlying eastern feel with percussion and picked guitar, but gives Preece’s voice a chance to take the melody line, which it does with soaring success. The song also contains a Celtic harp, an instrument I wish we heard more often.

It is a quality album from start to finish and a credit to the performers involved. There is enough diversity to keep it interesting throughout and both traditional Celtic music fans, and fans of world music will get a lot of listening pleasure out of it. Although both Celtic and eastern styles have been mixed before this record screams of originality. The self-penned tracks sit along side the traditional very well and make the record flow very easily. If you can get your hands on a copy, it’s well worth doing so.