New work glows after Aberfeldy fallout

VOODOO ROOMS, EDINBURGH

IN THE past year, Edinburgh country-pop quintet Aberfeldy may have lost their record deal with Rough Trade and two of their members (the chorus line of Ruth Barrie and Sarah McFadyen, now working together as The Hula Hoops), but their singer and songwriter Riley Briggs retains his ear for a winning song and his likeably eccentric stage manner. These, more than anything, will help the band emerge from the career furrow they've had to endure.

Aberfeldy are still one of the most winningly diverse bands to emerge in Scotland in recent years, certainly a shining light on Edinburgh's scene. Briggs and bassist Ken McIntosh are the only founder members left, while drummer Murray Briggs (Riley's brother) has been in the band for a couple of years now. New members Chris Bradley and Vicky Gray fill Barrie and McFadyen's multi-instrumentalist roles, while support act Donna Macioca – of Edinburgh band Amplifico – helped out on backing vocals. This new line-up appeared tentative but agreeably spirited.

Gray and Macioca gamely threw themselves into the sometimes complex harmonies – including Heliopolis By Night's high-pitched, nose-pinching lines – while versions of other established 'Feldy classics such as Vegetarian Restaurant, Something I Must Tell You and 1970s were solid, though not yet definitive. Semi-ironic closing covers of Chris De Burgh's A Spaceman Came Travelling and Shakin' Stevens's Merry Christmas Everyone were just lovely, though.

New songs such as I'll Be in Denial and Briggs's "wee Doobie Brothers moment" Only Rock'n'Roll do heavily reference the band's recent fallout, but their bittersweet country style suggests Aberfeldy's forthcoming third album could be their most mature and considered yet.