Album Review: Jiggy, Hypernova

Their promise to bring “a whole new exotic flavour” to trad is enough to send some folk purists into fits of agony – but that hasn’t stopped the viral success of Jiggy. Embracing a madcap concoction of traditional Irish instrumentation, world music rhythms and danceable grooves, the collective have built a reputation for blurring the lines between genres – often to dizzying extremes, as evidenced on their new album, Hypernova.

In an age of deeply authentic and fearlessly original Irish folk, ‘trad fusion’ has taken on some negative connotations – with many relating it to the more uncomfortable musical excesses and heavy-handed production techniques of the ‘90s and early ‘00s. While the modern movement has carved Irish folk down to its rawest roots, Jiggy unselfconsciously throw this approach to the wind – slamming together beatboxing (‘Road To Errogie’), Irish language rap (‘Man Of Aran’), hip-hop beats (‘Crossing The Rhine’) and even Indian vocal percussion (‘Back To Belfast’).

The result will surely provoke a few head-scratches, but from start to finish, Hypernova is anything but dull. Indeed, whenever the vocals and instrumentation are offered the chance to breathe organically, Jiggy are compelling. Distancing themselves from novelty-act accusations, they channel their sound to tackle contemporary issues – with standout single ‘Friday’s Child’ poignantly exploring the future of the Irish border.

True to its namesake, Hypernova is a cosmic explosion of energy – and all 13 tracks beg to be heard in a live setting, where the stunning musicianship can truly shine.

Out February 22.