Birmingham based Juniper consists of six members, including a frontline of multi-instrumentalists, alongside percussionist and producer Cormac Byrne. Together they weave a sound that embraces traditional folk music with rock and a hint of jazz.
Opening with the atmospheric instrumental ‘The Wren’, the album immediately builds a cinematic soundscape of percussion and keys layered over traditional flute, whistles, and pipes. The band then revitalises the traditional Irish ballad ‘Step It Out Mary’ with blistering violin, soaring vocal harmonies, jazzy saxophone, and adventurous bass guitar.
The production throughout ‘Halfway Home’ is outstanding; every musician shines clearly in the mix with perfect separation. This meticulous care is on full display in ‘Catharsis’, where a full band arrangement skilfully weaves guitars, flutes, whistles, violin, and percussion into a glorious, unified harmony.
Equally impressive is ‘The Flower of Magherally’, a traditional County Down ballad with ties to the Bronte family, reimagined with haunting harmonies and a funky, saxophone-driven groove. Meanwhile, John Hartford’s Americana classic ‘Tall Buildings’ is transformed into a moving traditional ballad that heightens the song’s poignant themes of lost youth.
‘Halfway Home’ maintains a flawless pace from start to finish, cleverly balancing instrumentals with traditional songs to keep the listener wanting more. While it is rare for modern artists to push genre boundaries the way Fairport Convention or Jethro Tull once did, Juniper excels by blending non-traditional instruments with fresh, original arrangements.
This is truly folk music for the 21st century.