Reviews

Praise for K5:

'There is an overwhelming blitheness and pure joy from beginning to end on Dalla's fifth album "K5"' (folkworld.eu)

‘Beautifully played and sung - K5 is a brilliantly consistent sequence, where the level of energy doesn’t flag for an instant..irresistible’. (fRoots)

‘A highly distinctive musical signature which pairs some resoundingly expressive playing with a really inventive blending of textures, colours and dynamics.’ (fRoots)

‘The sheer vitality and enthusiasm Dalla bring to their music is well displayed.’ (fRoots)

‘An invigorating sequence, a proud mix of strong original but trad-inspired compositions and colourful treatments of purely traditional songs and tunes.’ (fRoots)

‘Fiendish.. a skilful mix.. exotic.. at times astoundingly lively.. Yet another success to add to Dalla’s achievements’ (Trad Mag)

‘The album succeeds in conveying the sense of fun, love of music and quality of performance that is the hallmark of this remarkable ensemble’. (Amazon)

'A terrific album' (Mike Harding)

'A beautiful, beautiful version of Sweet Nightingale' (Mike Harding)



Praise for Cribbar:

'Dalla returns for a further persuasive invocation of the magic of Cornwall; Cribbar is a lively and compelling portrait of its music and traditions.' (David Kidman - fRoots)

'A real box of delights in both musicality and technique' (Pete Fyfe - Maverick Magazine)

'A veritable local pageant incorporating a bewildering, and intensely satisfying, variety of music.' (David Kidman - fRoots)

'There is an intelligence that inhabits and underpins the various activities of Dalla. It shines through the band’s new album, Cribbar, an accomplished, rich and full sound.' (Bert Biscoe - West Briton)

'Beautiful and well-rounded... Buy this in the certainty of vivid and complete enjoyment.' (Chris Ridley – Folknews Kernow)

'Ann Tremellan ...is a sumptuous banquet of layered vocals courtesy of Coleman and Applebee interlaced with a gently rolling, hypnotic mandolin/bouzouki riff topped-off by guest Will Coleman’s gaita bagpipes.' (Pete Fyfe - Maverick Magazine)

'Dalla unquestionably possess their own distinctive and piquant regional identity.' (David Kidman - fRoots)

'Dalla’s best yet' (Chris Ridley – Folknews Kernow)

'The womens’ voices are... probably, now, one of the finest female singing partnerships anywhere in the folk canon today.' (Bert Biscoe - West Briton)

'The Padstow via America song “Maggie May” performed with the subtleness it deserves by Steve Hunt will I’m sure be soaked sponge-like into the folk tradition... and work its way into many sessions throughout the UK.' (Pete Fyfe - Maverick Magazine)

'If it’s dazzling displays of digital dexterity you’re looking for check out Davey’s tour de force on the triplet frenzied “Bishop’s Jig/No Song No Supper”…astonishing or what?' (Pete Fyfe - Maverick Magazine)

'Steeped in Cornish and Celtic sounds yet appealing in a totally new musical style.' (Chris Ridley – Folknews Kernow)

'Steve Hunt adds a melodic and tonal depth, whilst his guitar drives without dominating.' (Bert Biscoe - West Briton)

'Through a well-engineered sequence of tunes and songs, the flavour of Cornish traditions is authentically evoked in performances that are uplifting, committed and energetic.' (David Kidman - fRoots)

'Rollicking sets of tunes... Some are given an almost klezmer feel by Hilary’s clarinet, some showcase Neil’s dazzling bouzouki playing.' (David Kidman - fRoots)

'Terrific' (Chris Ridley – Folknews Kernow)

'As respite from the dances we’re treated to a gorgeous, hypnotic chiming Ann Tremellan (a Cornish version of Barbara Allen), a sensitive rendition of “witchy” Maggie May (the late-19th-century American song popularised in Padstow by Charlie Bate' (David Kidman - fRoots)

'Throughout, Dalla prove to have a keen ear for innovative instrumental and vocal blending while making great capital out of their traditional sources.' (David Kidman - fRoots)

'Cribbar! I cry – for this mighty wave of Cornish music is breaking on your shore: prepare to be engulfed by the tide.' (David Kidman - fRoots)

'Steve’s melodic guitar is wonderful' (Chris Ridley – Folknews Kernow)

'Hilary Coleman’s clarinet - she is an excellent musician... gives the sound a distinctiveness and flexibility that always grabs the ear.' (Bert Biscoe - West Briton)

'Exciting? You bet!' (Bert Biscoe - West Briton)

'Top-class recording' (Chris Ridley – Folknews Kernow)

'Cribbar is excellently produced, nicely packaged, and sounds good enough to stand confidently on the world stage and compete with the best. In this Dalla are Cornish pioneers' (Bert Biscoe - West Briton)

'The listener cannot fail to be moved by Cribbar, and to be immersed in the richness and quality of the band’s music.' (Bert Biscoe - West Briton)

'There’s no need for a Cornish pastiche when you can get the ‘real’ thing right here' (Pete Fyfe - Maverick Magazine)

'I just hope that I’ve persuaded you, the great record buying public into dipping into your hard earned savings to purchase a more than worthy recording.' (Pete Fyfe - Maverick Magazine)



Praise for Rooz:

'…innovation… energy… multi-instrumentalist virtuosity… exquisitely overlapping voices… a rich aural tapestry that would awaken the dead. Sublime.' (Rock’n’Reel)

'Distinctive harmony vocals… dramatic chordal fiddle accompaniment… the gutsy tones of the clarinets… superlative mandolin playing - astonishing!… a great album' (folk & roots)

‘The tunes fizz, with the band not afraid to explore them fully, improvising around them with considerable virtuosity and verve.’ (Living Tradition)

'ROOZ, by Dalla…immediately entraps the listener…a pure aural pleasure. Dalla are a band to be remembered and reckoned with.' (Highlands FM, Australia)

‘Dalla…produce an invigorating and fascinating sound.’ (Living Tradition)

'Dalla… are masters at giving us fascinating music… faultless handling of instruments… excellent voices… quite simply terrific. This is Dalla’s best and most accessible recording to date' (Folknews Kernow)

'Dalla’s music has a dervish quality that will grab the listener by the throat.' (folk & roots)

‘The songs are attractive, with the two female voices playing off each other to great effect.’ (Living Tradition)

'World Music with a Cornish accent.' (Rock’n’Reel)

'A must-have for lovers of happening Cornish music' (justcornish.com)

'Rooz is Dalla’s most assured CD to date...Bright, haunting and irrepressible...Sensitively performed' (Simon Parker - Western Morning News)

'The beautiful harmonies of Hilary and Bec… evoke loss and longing. The two female voices perfectly complement each other' (Simon Parker - Western Morning News)

'No group comes close in matching them for output, touring, profile or commitment to the task of re-igniting interest in the canon of Cornish music,  ... [With Rooz] Dalla, once again prove they are musically 'red' hot.' (Alan M.Kent)



Praise for More Salt!:

‘Dalla’s performances are both inventive and enchanting, their music celebrates Cornish culture in an upbeat and infectious voice’ (The Guardian)

‘The rhythmic, mesmerizing music of Cornwall is finally gaining recognition among noteworthy traditions of the British Isles thanks to groups like Dalla.’ (Dirty Linen - USA)

‘More Salt! is a fascinating collection of pulsing dance tunes and songs in English and Cornish, creatively arranged and tastefully performed.’ (Dirty Linen - USA)

‘infectious…edgy… multilayered… syncopated…dynamic’ (Dirty Linen - USA)

‘If you’ve heard enough Irish reels for the moment, you’ll find this a dynamic alternative.’ (Dirty Linen - USA)

‘Hypnotic…sinister…downright funky…a joy’ ‘Everybody is obviously having a blast’ (folking.com)

‘I was mighty impressed. Very original arrangements. Lovely singing and playing… a clever bunch of people!’ (Andy Irvine - Planxty)

‘Dalla’s music creates a rich tapestry which once experienced is difficult to forget.’ (Froots)

‘You’ll hear hypnotic fiddle passages supporting vocal harmonies, incisive inner harmonic layers, beautiful interjections from bagpipes and accordion, full-bodied double bass, and dark weaving patterns from the bass clarinet. The wind section fuse showy openings into the mix, sounding either like a jazz big band or a local brass band. The final track draws you into a trance ambiance.’ (Parole e Musica dalla Terra/World Music Magazine - Italy)

‘Cracking…should be widely heard.’ (Traditional Music Maker)

‘Flawlessly performed’ ‘A remarkable album’ (Cornish World)

‘I fell in love with More Salt right from the outset’ ‘Familiar yet intriguingly new’ ‘The best version of The Helston Furry Dance ever recorded’ (Folk On Tap)

‘Essential for any collection of Cornish Music’ ‘Highly accomplished, original and traditional’ (justcornish.com)



Praise for A Richer Vein:

‘Traditional, modern and magical.’ ‘I can’t begin to put into words the wonder that I felt as I listened to the CD.’ (Jim Wearne)

‘Beautiful stuff.’ ‘Cannot be faulted’ (Cornish World)

‘If you asked me what Cornwall sounded like, I would have to say this: Dalla!’ (CKFM Radio)

‘Fantastic…if Cornish music had a Top Ten, this CD would be number one.’ (justcornish.com)

‘An extraordinary band at the forefront of a Celtic music revolution in Cornwall’ ‘Intoxicating noze looan dance music.’ ‘I want to hear it again. Now, please.’ ‘A superb piece of work.’ (greenmanreview.com)

‘lyrical…thrilling… an accessible road for Cornish music.’ (Sing Out)

'[Dalla’s] mix of songs and dances -both traditional and original - contains a little that’s familiar (“Helston”, with horns blowing beautifully), and a lot that treads strange, sometimes lovely paths.’ (Sing Out)

‘With a clarinet as part of the band an unusual sound is given. But it works in a surprisingly strong fashion against guitar, fiddle, and other strings. So too does the juxtaposition of song and dances, which bring a real grounding to the disk’ (Sing Out)

‘I love it.’ ‘If you don't get up and dance… your dancing days are over’ (tnt-audio.com)