Rough and ready as they come, The Rapparees (who formed about six years ago), have been described by Hotpress as ‘irresistably rough-arsed’ and that’s exactly what they are.
Their debut studio album ‘Clarity’, launched on 1 October at The Black Box Theatre in Belfast, is truly music for the soul. It’s music that gets your foot tapping and your head bobbing. Even for those of us who don’t really buy into the whole folk thing, this album breeds converts. After listening to so many bands that are too busy trying to look broody and nonchalant to enjoy themselves it’s fantastic to hear The Rapparees playing like the craic is mighty. And it is.
‘Clarity’ is all over the place, in the best possible way. Rowdy choruses, slow ballads, reels and self penned songs that manage to sound traditional (‘Grass Grows Greener’) and contemporary (’70cl’). My personal favourite is ‘The White Line’, a song that proves without doubt their talent as song writers.