Rallion For No One and Everyone

*****

See rallion.co.uk

Review by Jack Foster

Rallion are a four piece traditional folk group, hailing from Edinburgh and Glasgow. The current line-up is Marieke McBean (vocals, bodhran, djembe, guitar), Stevie Lawrence (guitar, bouzouki), Andrew Lyons (fiddle, cittern) and Fiona Cuthill (fiddle, whistles, recorder). Their album 'For No One and Everyone' is unfortunately still beneath the radar of most major reviewers and press. Recorded and produced at Big Sky studios in Galashiels (Scottish Borders), this is a well accomplished album from a band who are sure to be around for a good while yet.

The first (and only real) major critisicm of the album is that the name of the producer is not credited anywhere on the sleeve (at least I can't find it), and the production on 'For No One & Everyone' deserves credit - it really is beautifully mixed. Marieke McBean leads the vocals throughout the album, which is very much Scottish folk music with a soulfull edge that shows a real passion for the genre. Combining original numbers with some classics, this is an album you can listen to over and over again.

There is something about Rallion which seperates them from other rising folk ensembles, it comes across in their recordings (and I suspect their live performances too) - and that is how much they enjoy playing the music, and playing together. The subtle mixture of guitar, bouzouki, fiddle, cittern, whistles and vocals is not easy to achieve, but Rallion make it sound effortless, transporting us from fast paced numbers such as 'Stampede' and 'amalgamation' to the more heart wrenching stuff like 'King Of Prussia' and 'Fisherman's Wife'.

'For No One & Everyone' would be a wise investment for any discerning folkie, and you can bet your bottom dollar it won't be last we'll hear of Rallion.

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