Mànran - Mànran

Despite lacking formal management or a record label, sextet Mànran have arrived with a bang on the Scottish folk scene, and have assembled an urgent, fresh-sounding debut album.

Mànran gets off to an energetic start, with Fingal’s Cave and Reels showing off the group’s virtuosic playing. A combination of both highland and uileann pipes, accordion, fiddle, flute and a thumping drum and bass backline mean the band are really able to rock out.

A distinct shift in tone follows, with Glaodh An Iar - a song so anthemic one could imagine it being belted out in the final of some kind of Celtic folk X Factor. Norrie Maciver’s warm vocals suit this style, and he also shines on the romantic The Open Door, one of the few English-language songs on the album.

The band clearly contains a wealth of individual talents, and each instrumentalist is given space to shine on the thoughtfully arranged and well-paced tracks. Calum Stewart’s flute playing is given its due in Schottische, while Scott Mackay’s driving drums really bring Latha Math to life, and bass player Ross Saunders is a revelation throughout. Elsewhere, guest pianist Phil Cunningham adds depth to another anthemic track, An Eala Bhàn.

Mànran are capable of some catchy, almost pop-style music too. Oran Na Cloiche is sure to become a live favourite, while Speybay Switch is upbeat and danceable. Chasing Daylight, on the other hand, features some questionable 1980s-style production and drags slightly, before the pulsating Puirt brings things to an end.

A fresh, exciting and relentlessly likeable record, Mànran have set the bar high for their future output and live performances.