In the Willows: Before Everybody Disappears

It is all too easy to cherry-pick the influences of this Dublin and Waterford sextet: echoes of folk acts Laura Marling, Fleet Foxes and (although they might deny it) Mumford & Sons freely abound. So, originality may not be top of the agenda – not a huge deal. More concerning is the fact that not one of the 11 tracks on this debut album grab you by the lapels and cling on for dear life. Vocalists Daithí Glas and Tara Heffernan's soft murmurings are undeniably soothing, but the slow, soft nature of the accompanying acoustic music is wearisomely middle of the road. Trying and Sirens have more conviction, as does the folky waltz of Le Danse, but Heffernan's over-dramatic pop-style vocal on closing piano ballad It's Over sounds utterly misplaced. It's sweet in nature, but ultimately, a little too try-hard. inthewillows. com