Malcolm Dalglish,
Grey Larsen
Thunderhead
Flying Fish

With their new instrumental album, hammer dulcimer player Malcolm Dalglish and multi-instrumentalist Grey Larsen have put themselves far above other non-traditional folk music interpreters.

Calm and introspective, but with teeth and imagination, this fine instrumental record remains close to the dance spirit of the traditions they explore.  Dalglish handles much of the lead work but switches to the background to allow Larsen’s flute, fiddle or concertina to come forward.  The album’s variety is striking: “Both Shot Lincoln” and “Hanning’s Farewell,” American tunes, are given an evocative fiddle treatment with guitar and dulcimer fantasies in the distance.  One set includes an American shape-note hymn, and two Irish reels, and closes with a haunting Greek hymn.  All are developed beautifully.
--Matthew Barton