Woodenbox With a Fistful of Fivers – Home and the Wild Hunt (Electric Honey)

Scottish folk-rockers Woodenbox With a Fistful of Fivers issue their debut album after a host of ecstatic live reviews and the patronage of BBC 6Music’s Marc Riley, who seems to have an innate knack for identifying excellent new bands. Armed with a riot of folk and country laments, fired up with delirious horns, they seemingly inhabit the same kind of territory which has made Mumford and Sons fast-rising successes and festival favourites.

Home and the Wild Hunt is adept at confounding expectations, not least in how the lilting country-rock styling of the (very brief) ‘Intro’ segues neatly into a swinging folk stomper, with mainman Ali Downer leading the way and ably supported by the rest of the band. Trumpet and saxophone are pushed to the fore, which lends a unique edge to their harmony-laden sound.

Elsewhere, the pulsating ‘Immigrant’ proves they can tackle Big Subjects, as well as maudlin folk tales. It’s the story-based songs which are most common on this sumptuous debut, though, particularly in the ghostly folk of ‘Draw a Line’ and ‘Hang the Noose’, with the latter weaving a tale of a botched suicide attempt and its repercussions. Reminiscent of Morricone in his spaghetti western mode, there’s even a foreboding, Alessandroni-esque whistled intro, suggesting that Downer and co are suckers for attention to detail. Not to mention, ramming home the Sergio Leone connotations of their band name.

Similarly, ’Besides the Point’ relocates Wild West saloons to Scotland and is lyrically very different from their bleak images, opting for a louche sing-along punctuated by drunken horns. As such, it adds an extra layer to an album which is mainly concerned with dark narratives and wilfully emphasises the macabre aspects of life – it’s an approach which is rewarding enough on its own, but evidence of that gear shift makes it an even more interesting record.

One of the few criticisms of Home and the Wild Hunt is the fact that it doesn’t quite capture the band’s electrifying presence as witnessed during their live performances, which are fuelled by a defined energy and warmth. Nevertheless, the studio versions of these songs allow the arrangements space to breathe, aided by airy production plus subtle textures which reveal themselves further with every listen. Overall, it’s a captivating long-player from a hugely exciting band which is destined for big things and will no doubt be gracing festival stages before too long.