I spent many happy childhood holidays in Scotland with my parents, who loved the place, and it has always struck me that both the Scots and the Irish are genuinely — and rightly — proud of their heritage without ever resorting to the nonsense that too often accompanies such endeavours in England.
That sense of confidence and authenticity runs right through Nathan Evans & The Saint PHNX Band. Even before this debut album has landed, they’ve already announced a festival celebrating Scottish culture and sold out Glasgow’s Hydro. That tells you pretty much everything you need to know about the moment they’re in — and the connection they’ve forged with their audience.
The title track opens proceedings steeped in that same spirit, hopelessly euphoric, its accent worn proudly, folk textures woven into something that feels immediate and joyful rather than worthy. “Arabella” follows with fiddle lines that lodge themselves in your brain instantly — catchy as hell, in fact — while “Milarrochy Bay” underlines that these songs understand the lost art of the two-minute pop hit. Don’t bore us, get to the chorus, and get out having said what you needed to say.
As the record unfolds, ambition creeps in. “Happy Place” and “Islay” feel more expansive, stretching the palette without losing the core warmth, while “The Tide” positively explodes, one of those moments where everything lifts at once and you can practically hear the crowd joining in already. There’s also a glorious reworking of “Cotton Eye Joe”, which somehow manages to feel both respectful and completely reinvigorated, while “The Wedding” has the feel of a communal celebration waiting to happen.
“Drinking Song” sounds like what might happen if Rob Heron decided to write a straight-up pop tune, before “Blood and Bone” shows just how rooted this band really are — Americana acts would kill for this sense of connection and feel. “All Roads” leans into that idea of bonds and belonging, with bagpipes woven in naturally rather than wheeled out as a gimmick, and by the time “Last Orders” closes things down there’s a sense that history weighs heavy here, but in a way that comforts rather than overwhelms.
They scarcely need any more praise given that this album is already all over Radio 2 and they’re probably going to be huge regardless. But praise where it’s due: “Angels’ Share” is warm, confident, ambitious in the right places and rooted without being stuck.
Rating: 8/10
