Reviewed by Ewan Jones

Herken are a folk band from Penicuik in Scotland, headed up by songwriter and guitarist Alan Murray. 'The Man' is the final result of a project that first saw the light of day at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1992. Murray's playing is outstanding and the album is beautifully recorded. His lyrics are in turn imaginative, humourous and moving. With the current folk revival in full swing, this deserves to get a large and appreciative audience. The songs work well individually, and the inlay booklet links them together well - it would be great to see many of the images that accompany live performances of 'The Man'. The music is mostly influenced by traditional UK folk music and presents a varied mix of instrumentals, acappella verse, ballads and barroom choruses. Additional vocals are provided by members of Alan's family Glynis, Sooz and Paul plus other band members Alison, Ros and David. This variety, as well as excellent musicianship, keeps the listening experience fresh and aids the telling of the story over 70 minutes or so.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.