The young members of the Last Orders quartet met when they were all part of Kathryn Tickell's Folkestra project, and went on to win the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award. All well and good indeed, and their mix of two fiddles, guitar, and melodeon is excellent, with all of them stunningly talented players who work well together. That much is very ably illustrated on their debut CD. But what's also evident is the fact that they're still very young, and they've yet to establish an identity that's completely theirs. It will come, that's beyond doubt (although whether singer Maz O'Connor, who contributes vocals to a couple of tracks, should be along for the journey is a matter of debate), but for now this is a document of where they are now, essentially a unit forged by teachers and influences. They've soaked up music like sponges, and seem to have a definite love of Swedish dances, but for the most part it's impossible to listen to anything here and say "This is Last Orders" (the exception, curiously, is their polka take on the venerable "Camptown Races," which emerges sprightly, elegant, and remarkably fresh). The playing is faultless, and sometimes stunning, as on "Bourrees." There's a long way to go before they're the finished article -- although it promises to be an interesting trip -- but this, more than anything, is an album of potential.
© Chris Nickson /TiVo