Imar - Avalanche

Imar formed back in 2016 and have been making an impact on the folk scene ever since including picking up the award for best emerging act at this year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. When you organise your first gig, back in 2016, to be at the Cambridge Folk Festival, one of the genres biggest events you have to be confident of your talents. Imar have no such issues there with very evident talent and confidence with comes through in the tunes. 

Now onto their second album ‘Avalanche’ following their highly acclaimed debut ‘Afterlight’ which came out last year.  This new album picks up where they left off which more tunes that make you want dance around the room too and get that foot tapping along. The sound is very traditional in the Irish / Celtic tradition but with a twist that certainly sells itself to a modern Folk audience. 

The album opener ‘Deep Blue’ is an example of exactly these qualities absolutely full of energy and the vibrancy that Imar have to offer. Totally instrumental bands have to, of course, convey all the emotions without the vocals and they are particularly adept at this with ‘White Strand’ having a slower more measured pace. But they soon pick that back up with tracks such as ‘Revenge’ getting the musical and listeners pulse going. 

Although it is back to an almost melancholic track to end the album on ‘Trip to Novi Sad’ perhaps lamenting the end of this wonderful set of tunes, but once again showing the range of emotions you can build into the composition. If you prefer the upbeat ones, no worries there as we can simply skip back to track one and start the party all over again, this would come into it’s own in a live setting, they are touring this month and I strongly suggest you get along if you can. 

Review by Jon Cooper 

Check Out! the Video for 'Deep Blue' Here: