A Rival Heart

Bouzouki, whistle and flute player Mark Evans recorded this winsome debut album in Maryland, his home from the late 1990s until recently (he’s just moved back to London), with multi-instrumentalist Zan McLeod producing. Helping to round out the sound are various Baltimore/Washington area musicians of repute – accordionist Billy McComiskey, fiddler Dave Abe and bodhrán player Myron Bretholz among others. There’s a Planxty-esque classical feel to the tunes here, subtle and delicate rather than rousing, and none the worse for that. Evans is also a fine singer in the Andy Irvine mold, and his choice of material indicates a keen eye for such overlooked gems as the early Child ballad ‘The Death of Queen Jane’ and the title track, adapted by Evans from another old English song.