Harmonious Wail 'Bohemian Tango'

This band, Harmonious Wail, define themselves as a gypsy swinging, torch singing, death-defying love note. All very "bohemian" indeed and the jazz tinged, swing sound recalls the heady days of Django Reinhardt and the Parisian Café Society of the 1930’s.

Tango dates back to the 1890’s in Argentina and Uruguay. The twelve tracks contain a number of tango based rhythms but it is the overall bright and light jazz feel of the numbers that will linger in the memory. A heady mix of mandolin, ukulele, upright bass, piano, melodica, sax and various guitars are topped off with the fine vocals of Maggie Delaney-Potthoff. She also fills out the sound with various percussive instruments including a cardboard box, egg shakers, sand blocks, scissors, a vintage brass lampshade and even a regular tambourine.

Sims Delaney-Potthoff produces the CD, as well as playing a variety of stringed instruments, plus a porch board. By now you have the sense that the song arrangements are very fluid and liquid and the excellent playing is warm and full of invention.

The closest that we ever get to a country sound is the cover versions of Trouble In The Fields (Nanci Griffith) and Tennessee Waltz (Stewart/King).However, it is the Rodgers and Hammerstein cover of My Favourite Things that steals the moment with some fine scat singing from Maggie to heighten the experience.