In my part of the world, if you look around the folk club audience, the average age must be well into the 50s, even 60s, as it is for most of the performers! So it is always good to see new young blood coming into folk music, and goodness knows we need them. Thankfully, there are a lot of young groups coming on to the scene these days, and it is pleasing to see they have taken influence from their parents and are keen to keep traditional music alive. However, from the music on this album, it is evident that Dulaman have taken a slightly different route than some. Although they live in the mid-Cheshire area of England their music shows a strong preference for American Bluegrass, tinged with just a hint of Celtic charm and a healthy dose of contemporary singer-songwriter.

This is the band's debut album, and most of the material on it is written by the band. This young band, whose average age is 22, is comprised of Anna Kelly on fiddle and harmony vocals, David Pickering on mandolin and vocals, Eleanor Cross on bass and vocals, and James Dewdney on guitar and vocals. This is a studio-based recording, and the band has obviously taken a lot of time and dedication to record it. I have to say I am very impressed with the overall finish. If they can sound one half as good as this live, they may be on their way up and you could be hearing a lot about Dulaman in the future. But how does a Bluegrass band sound without that driving banjo, you wonder! Surprisingly, for the most part, pretty damn good! On the song 'Red Curtains', where a banjo is essential, guest musician Jonny Hulme plays the banjo.

Four Years in November has 10 tracks and of these 7 are songs. The album starts well with a nice, almost Celtic-sounding tune 'Beyond the Beginning' (written by James,) which I thought was very good. They change gear on the second track with 'Cluck Old Hen', a traditional American Bluegrass tune. Fiddler Anna Kelly does a nice job and she also takes the lead vocal on the first song for the album at track 3, 'Edge Hill', a song dealing with the confusion of a failed romance. Like this one, the other songs on the album are all set in the contemporary folk idiom. All, that is, except for one -- 'Red Curtains' (written by Eleanor) -- this is firmly in the Bluegrass mode.

Personally, I enjoyed the tunes better than songs -- not there is anything wrong with them you understand. It's just that they really are much better musicians than songsmiths. Having said that, my favourite track on the album is 'Red Curtains', a song! The subject matter for the other songs deal with love, self-esteem, failings of being mortal and saying the wrong things, procrastination and even betrayed love, when your lover is caught getting it on with your brother. All are sung quite well, but I suspect they will be enjoyed more by the devotees of the contemporary folk song than fans of the traditional.

Dulaman is a tight little band that shows a lot of promise. However, they do play a curious mix of musical styles. As such, it is hard to define exactly to whom the band is going to appeal most. On the one hand they are a Bluegrass band and on the other they are a young contemporary folk band. In the past a lot of bands have tried to rock the boat and failed. Only time will tell if they have got it right. On a personal note, I applaud what they are trying to do, and I can't fault their musicianship. I have to say on the whole the album makes interesting listening.