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Stömp - I Claim My Five Pounds (Osmosys)
OK Lobby Lud! This high-energy five-piece ceilidh band needs no special pleading, for they've come up trumps with their second CD, a spirited and imaginative mixture of tunes both time-honoured and freshly composed, with the occasional song thrown in (there's two here by band member guitarist Andrew King, one much in the LJE styling and the other a whimsical seaside fantasy that doesn't quite fit, and a respectable trad-arr to finish). Stömp's sound is less yer traditional ceilidh and more a kind of mixture of Flook, Tull, Swåp crossbreed with fiddle (Kevin Adams) and English-concertina (Sheena Masson) to the fore in place of accordion/melodeon, and displaying a strong European influence and interest amongst the sundry Englishry, and yet a distinctly New Victory sense of fun surfacing on the likes of Mr Gifford's Maggot. Notwithstanding all that, members are well versed in the UK ceilidh scene - bassist Martin Appleby, has produced for the Bismarcks and Posh Band, and Kevin's driving morris-style fiddle and chirpy mandolin have graced countless bands (most recently dance band Stocai), while drummer Rob Gifford is veteran of Flowers & Frolics and Gas Mark 5 and latterly The Committee Band. For a ceilidh band CD, this is an unusual one, with an altogether more intricate (possibly softer-edged) instrumental blend and some attractive more reflective moments, but that doesn't mean it's lacking in guts or general chutzpah (and occasional rude loudnesses!) and tracks like the Scan Tester's set certainly get the feet tapping in the approved manner, while I also liked the band's crisp sense of attack that derives from their pedigree as a working dance band. Exciting and invigorating, electric without shouting, polished yet spontaneous, varied in texture and pace - what more could you want? Me I need to catch up with their first CD!
David Kidman July 2006
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