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Natural Angle - full-on melodic melange of fresh ideas (March 05, 2010) Any album from Grada is bound to engage your ear from the first. Their fifth studio album ‘Natural Angle’ does exactly that building on a Celtic heritage, amplified with pop-touched Americana delivered by talented musicians. Their various origins range from Ireland to New Zealand and America, and combine to season their music – and a rich essence it is too. Grada are Andy Laking (double bass, vocals, guitar) Stephen Doherty (flutes, whistle, accordion) Nicola Joyce (vocals, bodhrán, piano) Gerry Paul (guitar, vocals) David Doocey(fiddle, concertina). On ‘Natural Angle’ they’re joined by John Gardner (drums), percussion, Alison Brown (banjo), Odessa Jorgenson )backing vocals) and Tim O’Brien (mandolin, bouzouki, guitar, backing vocals). And if that’s not a recipe for a musical feast then I’m not sure what is. Despite their assortment of heritages, the band gravitated toward the west of Ireland. Maybe it’s their affinity with that magical coastline that generates the sharp originality ever-present in their music. Perhaps it’s just the fresh energy possessed by youth. Whatever it is innovative, bright vigour courses throughout ‘Natural Angle’.
Moulded on foundations old enough for a bus pass blended with a contemporary take on acoustic folk ‘Natural Angle’ is a full-on melodic melange of fresh ideas delivered by talented musicians.
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A couple of rocking reels make up
‘Abe’s Axe’, which opens. ‘John Riley’ follows; a sobering narrative song that lives
and breathes through the clarity of Nicola’s voice, as does the gentle ballad
‘No Linen No Lace’. The traditional ‘The Butcher Boy’ is a