Other Reviews

04/06/2009

Only For Three Months

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Na-Mara

Na-mara are Paul McNamara (voice, guitars) and Rob Gracia (mandolin, octave mandola, guitar, voice) and their combined musical vision doesn't appear to have many limitations or boundaries. The duo's repertoire includes music from the British Isles, Brittany, Asturias and Galicia with plans to venture even further.

The guys explorations of folk traditions beyond these shores has been gathering pace and 'Only For Three Months' is a four track EP that sets out to highlight some material from France and Northern Spain. They've certainly done their homework with detailed notes included that'll send anyone off in numerous directions, for music and reading matter, if they so wish.

The opener, 'Three Bonny Ships', is a traditional Breton song and, on first listen, you realise Na-mara are as serious about their music as they are about their research: With strings deftly churning out memorable riffs it's a sea shanty with as much intrigue than the ocean itself.

It's in sharp contrast to track two - 'Solo Por Tres Meses' - which tells the tale of Rob's father and his evacuation to England during the Spanish civil war. Only the children were allowed to travel and mothers consoled them with the promise it was 'only for three months' - hence the title. The brutally of the events are told with great sensitivity to a suitably yearning melody. And if you want to know the conclusion of this very personal saga you're just going to have to buy the CD.

The instrumental 'Anada Pa Julia' acts as something of a coda to track two, being of similar tone, and also as bridge to 'When I took My Horse To Water' - a tragedy taken from the work of 'giant of French music' Gabrial Yacoub. The singing cleverly drifts between French and English and the capivating narrative never falters.

Making these tracks available to an English speaking audience is admirable enough but to infuse them with such life is a sure-fire way to leave us wanting more.

David Kushar

Na-Mara