Gráda "Natural Angle" (Compass Records)

On their new CD, “Natural Angle,” Irish band Gráda launches headlong into the cross-genre world of new acoustic music, bridging traditional Irish and Appalachian tunes and songs with Americana songwriting. Gráda, whose name means “gradient” in Irish, have always drawn from a melting pot of influences; “Natural Angle,” with its Americana edge and bluegrass twang, sets their Irish melodies and styles in sharp relief.

Four of the twelve tracks are American songs—although some of those have older Irish roots—and there are three original songs from the band, including for the first time an original song by vocalist Nicola Joyce.Gráda sought out famed bluegrass musician and singer Tim O’Brien, whom they had met at the Tonder Festival in Denmark in 2005, to produce the CD in Nashville. Harnessing the explosive energy of Gráda in the discipline of a Nashville studio was a challenge and a revelation, but “Natural Angle” perfectly captures the zest of the band’s live concerts.

Gráda’s improvisatory relish may seem at an angle to how people think about Irish traditional music, but it’s natural for this quintet. Made up of singer and bodhran player Nicola Joyce, fiddler and concertina player David Doocey, and flute and accordion player Stephen Doherty all from the west of Ireland, along with founding members Andy Laking, a non-Irish New Zealander whose instrument (besides guitar and vocals) is double bass, more commonly found in bluegrass and jazz than in Irish bands, and Gerry Paul, an Irishman brought up in New Zealand, on guitar and vocals.

“On Natural Angle,” Irish band Gráda launches headlong into the cross-genre world of new acoustic music, bridging traditional Irish and Appalachian tunes and songs with Americana songwriting.

Guests on “Natural Angle” include banjoist Alison Brown, Bearfoot vocalist and fiddler Odessa Jorgensen, and veteran Nashville sideman John Gardner (Dixie Chicks, Kenny Rogers, Earl Scruggs) on drums.

Standouts include the band’s take on the “The Butcher Boy” (recorded by Bob Dylan as “The Railroad Boy”, a song he may have learned it from The Clancy Brothers), “Pretty Polly” (an American version of “The Elfin Knight” made famous by Ralph Stanley), Nicola Joyce’s answer to Stan Rogers’ “The Lock-Keeper”, “Linen and Lace”, and “5 Jumps,” a set marrying a Danish reel, an original reel by former bandmate Colin Farrell, and a traditional Irish tune.

Related Links

• Gráda on Compass Records
• Gráda