Altsounds - Angel Brothers - Angel Brothers [Album]

Listening to this predominantly instrumental musical jewel the elegy of Thomas Gray came to mind, that ‘full many a flower is born to blush unseen and waste its sweetness on the desert air.’ This stunning album, a truly magical box of delights, is dedicated to Ivor Angel who died in 2007. Sadly its joys are unlikely to reach as wide an audience or receive the plaudits it deserves because it is largely instrumental and will most likely be filed under world music.

The "Angel Brothers" are Dave and Keith Angel, Dave the man on guitars and mandolin with Keith on percussion and drums, together with vocalists Sandhya Sanjana and Mick Humphrey, Becki Driscoll on fiddle, Nick Wyke on fiddle, viola and cello, Jim Lockey on electric bass, Andy Seward (bass player with Kate Rusby, Eddi Reader and Martin Simpson) on double bass and electric bass and Dave Formula (of Magazine and Visage) on keyboards.

The Angel Brothers’ recent output has been described as ‘eastern dub funk’ but this collection of beautifully constructed and never over-played tracks is more mellow, with fine strings and harmonies, creating sounds that paint vivid pictures, living up to the brothers’ description of the album as a ‘soundtrack to a film of your imagination.’

For me the track that initially stands out is 'Django’s Caravan,', a French / Spanish / North African flavoured affair with evocative strings and vocal colours so subtle you can taste the approaching sirocco on that desert air. 'Ghosts' is a magic carpet ride to things past, 'Shifting Sands' is a homage to spaghetti westerns and the Arabia of Lawrence and 'Same Sky, Different Planet' is very simply a film-makers’ dream.

The orchestral 'Tongues of Fire' (love the restrained fiddle playing) and gentle 'Empty Chairs' are more contemporary but just as evocative. The strings on 'Goldbricking' are superb while 'Stepping on Shadows' once again brings out the Brothers’ eastern influences, with Mumbai-born Sandhya Sanjana setting the tone for a very modern and accessible piece of fiction. And just when you’re longing for everyone to cast off the yokes of control and restraint they finally do so with 'Butlin’s Lederhosen Fancy,' a chuckling, thigh-slapping delight – performed live to boot!

I loved every track on this luscious, multi-layered album. The compositions are well sculpted, the arrangements beautifully delivered and the strings and percussion provide a valuable lesson for lesser musicians. The novel artwork also requires mention. Although a jewel case inevitably does away with the potential album cover impact of, say, The Beatles’ "Sgt Pepper" montage or the zip fastener of the Rolling Stones’ "Sticky Fingers," the possibility remains to surprise and entertain. This album’s simple but quirky artwork provides further delight and a suitable setting for this stunning musical jewel of an album. Thanks guys, your dad would be proud.