The Band includes Marick Baxter on Whistle and flute, Louise Baxter on vocals and guitar Mike Rule on Mandola, Bethany Porte on Cello and Bodhrán percussionist Breda Horgan.

First thing that strikes are the arrangements on ‘Janni’s’ set. The three tunes are in different rhythms and hail from Romania, Macedonia with the last one being taught to them by a Hungarian fiddle player. These tunes display their individualistic talents on a musical level with Horgan’s Bodhrán entering with a well paced deep toned Rhythm that enhances rather than drowns.

Horgan carries this awareness of the tunes through the Slower ‘Sunset’ and combined with Marick Baxter’s spirited flute playing excels on the within a mile of Dublin set with a resounding and well toned accompaniment throughout. The set, which includes the title track ‘The Thousand mile Journey’ is the highlight of the CD with each instrument combining with empathy building up to an exciting tempo. There is a story behind every song on the CD and Louise Baxter tells the tale in her own distinctive style. ‘Lady Franklin’s Lament’ Tells the story of John Franklin’s ill fated journey into the North West passage and vivid imagery is painted in Kate Rusby’s ‘The sleepless sailor ‘.

Each member of Inu is an expert in their own particular field and when they combine these talents the results are compelling and evocative. Let’s hope they journey on another thousand miles as we may be pleasantly surprised again.

The name Inu comes from the word inua of the Inuit tribe of North America and means soul or high spirit. This may have formed the basis of what initially attracted the Bath based group to their name, however, like their music, fresh perspectives are continually cropping up.

This is their inaugural release giving us a good overview of the group's inspirations and passions. And with material spanning the centuries from 1400 right up to today, there aren't any goalposts in sight. However, despite their different backgrounds, and eclectic tastes, the group do share a love of Celtic sounds, especially all things Irish.

The meticulously researched jigs and reels that predominate the album are nothing short of beckoning in their execution. Played with all the muscularity and fluidness that these chosen melodies require, it's certainly the group's main strength. Some will be familiar - 'The Mist Covered Mountain' or 'The Marry Harriers' - whilst others, sourced from The Balkans, not so obvious. A majority are played with Marick Baxter's flute playing to the fore whilst Louise Baxter's guitar picking alternatively mirrors and harmonizes. But they are capable of all moods with mandola, bodhran and cello regularly joining the mix.

The evergreen Lord Franklin is given a gender twist and presented as 'Lady Franklin's Lament' to emphasis his wife's turmoil and the financing of the fateful voyages that were sent in search of the admiral. It's one of the stronger non-instrumental tacks along with Louise's heart wrenching paean to her great-grandfather, 'John's Mermaid,' which delicately details the circumstances of his drowning in World War Two.

The eloquently written notes that accompany the CD show just how enthralled the group are with this stirring music. If they sustain their level of wide-eyed wonder, Celtic music will remain safe in their hands.

David Kushar - Spiral Earth   www.spiralearth.co.uk

Made of Musician’s central to the Bath folk scene, Inu play what is essentially Celtic music – Mainly Irish but with lots of English and Breton influences, mixing songs and Tunes in Equal parts.

The Usual suspects of the Bath Music circuit (Leon Hunt and Josh Clarke) were heavily involved in the recording and production of the album which guarantees its high quality.

The band’s material ranges from sources such as Kate Rusby (“The Sleepless sailor”), The Boys of the Lough’s Cathal O’Connell (“The Sunset”) Traditional Material (The unquiet grave”) as well as original songs and tunes. Well sung and played, and includes some excellent singing and superb ensemble playing.

4 stars (out of 5) Tony Slinger – Venue Magazine

Inu

Thousand Mile Journey

Inu is a traditional British folk ensemble headed by Marick Baxter, a very fine

Flautist and irrepressible force for not just traditional music, but music of all kinds

on a community level in and around Bath, UK.

Inu, with five members, is much more than just Marick. Louise Baxter sings with a

High, clear and melodious voice and plays guitar; Mike Rule plays mandola; Breda

Horgan contributes gentle bodhrán beats and Bethany Porter lovely cello.

The mandola is a beautiful, resonant instrument, lower in pitch than the mandolin,

And because of that, helps imbue this collection of mostly traditional tunes with a

Mellow ambience that will please many listeners. Beth Porter’s cello reinforces that Ear-pleasing ambience to great effect; it may not be a strictly traditional addition, but her cello playing is beautiful and augments quite organically.

As mentioned, the music is mostly traditional Irish with the insertion of a few

Originals and a few “contemporary traditional” songs (e.g., the Sleepless Sailor by

Kate Rusby) but it all falls together seamlessly as a whole.

I have to reinforce what a mellow sound is achieved throughout, even on blistering up tempo pieces.

Marick’s wooden and silver flutes come across as deep and resonant, luxurious even with the rest of the instruments in perfect balance. For those who recoil from the Stereotype of strident Irish folk music, have no fear; this nothing but beautiful.

Credit must go to recordists Josh Clark and Leon Hunt (who also did a masterful job on Jenny Crook’s excellent recent cd) and Henry Sears for another perfect

Production.

Review by Charley Dunlap www.charleyspace.co.uk/reviews.