Hailing from Kaiserslautern, reared in Sligo, and very much in thrall to the traditional folk and imported Americana beloved in both, Yngve Wieland was perhaps never destined to deliver the hippest music around. On the evidence of the rollicking, good times sound his band produce on their debut, however, he couldn’t give a hoot.
‘The Innocent’ is carefree, pleasantly naïve music, built on strong rhythmic foundations and plenty of knees-up piano. Sometimes things get a little too quaint: ‘Draw A Line’, for example, sounds like it should be played in a long boarded-up dancehall. Vocally, while Yngve occasionally evokes the tender frailty of a David Kitt, his delivery seems weak against more robust backing. Many of the songs here sound like ‘Rainy Day Women #12 & 35’ speeded up – and without the weed – and his penchant for singspeaking his winding lyrics makes for meandering tunes. When Yngve takes a moment, and settles into a groove, the results are far better. Opener ‘Weight Of Your Finger’ is a case in point, while the more blues-inflected, reflective final few songs end things on the right note. A solid effort.