Album Review: The Old Dance School - Chasing the Light (Transition)

Described as a cinematic septet, the Birmingham-based Old Dance School returns with a superb follow up to their remarkable second album FORECAST album of 2010. Once again their blending of traditional instrumentation such as the twin fiddles of Samantha Norman and Helen Lancaster, together with the jazz trumpet style of Aaron Diaz and Laura Carter's early music explorations on woodwind, not to mention the superb rhythm section featuring Tom Chapman's Peruvian cajón and Adam Jarvis's double bass, the band are once again poised to demonstrate their remarkable flair for arrangement and superb musicianship.

With some fine arrangements of new and familiar songs such as the Robin Beatty's captivating gannet harvesting song Sula Sgier and the sublime The North Edge, which closes the album, together with a fine interpretation of the traditional Craigie Hill, famously performed by Dick Gaughan on his seminal HANDFUL OF EARTH album, the album features some fine instrumental pieces such as the adventurous opener From the Air and the lilting Hiraeth. Although the pieces are complex, they are completely uncluttered and are ultimately easy to listen to. This is not music for the connoisseur, this music is for everybody.