Album Review: NoCrows, Why Us

Formed over a decade ago by musicians from Sligo’s impressively diverse music scene, NoCrows embrace Irish traditional, jazz, classical and world music styles in equal measure. The presence of Waterboy Steve Wickham in their ranks has drawn them added attention, but they are a multi-instrumental ensemble outfit, who describe themselves – not inaccurately – as a “folk orchestra”.
Among the highlights of Why Us? are the jaunty Tex-Mex instrumental ‘Can We Borrow The Cat’, the Greek-flavoured ‘The Monk’s Head’ and the jazzy ‘Written In Sand’. Indeed, with its acoustic guitar, mandolin and light percussion, the latter could easily sit alongside Ry Cooder’s work with the Buena Vista Social Club.
Elsewhere, ‘Senor’ is a lush romantic ballad with a lovely string arrangement, while the title track begins as a plaintive, atmospheric instrumental before exploding into life. Rounding out this hugely enjoyable album, meanwhile, is Steve Wickham’s beautifully haunting ‘The Other Side’. Essential listening for trad aficionados.