Album Review: The Heart's Bloodline, Tupelo

Conceived in Dublin, Wicklow, Oslo, Copenhagen, Moscow and elsewhere, the musical tag team known as Tupelo continue their sonic evolution with their third LP. Expanding on their Irish folk sound by adding elements of indie and alternative, these globe-trotting troubadours also sprinkle a little bit of soul and hip-hop onto the material. Boasting spartan production, The Heart’s Bloodline is arguably the Dublin-based duo’s best effort yet.

Though proceedings threaten to get a little maudlin towards the end, the gospel-tinged ballad ‘The Shriven Dust’ is a huge highlight. Other standouts include folk/rap fusion ‘Break Loose’; the uplifting, soul-infused (and aptly named) ‘Joyous’; and ‘Queen Of The Vale’, which harks back to the days when Hootie & the Blowfish and Counting Crows ruled the American airwaves. An impressive offering.

Record label: Crashed Records
Listen to: The Shriven Dust
Rating: 7/10