Release date 4 September 2009 and available through www.healthelaststand.com.

Heal The Last Stand from Wrexham is something of a family affair. The band’s lead singer Laura Dickinson also plays guitar and percussion, brother Joey sings and plays guitar, while brother number two, Stan, sings and plays piano. Thom Bithall on vocals, guitar and harmonica completes the lineup.

WHAT LOVE IS is the band’s debut, home-recorded album and if you like melodic modern folk music with messages that count, communicated via lovely solo vocals and delicate harmonies, then you may well love this album.

Opener ‘One’ is a stripped-down, gentle, wandering song with vocal performances from every singer in the band and a pleasant piano backdrop. The vocal harmonies are pretty special, the melody strong and the sentiments expressed quite moving. ‘Hear The Call’ starts with strident keyboard and guitar notes before a lovely female and male vocal duet join in. This upbeat song is pleasant enough but is trounced by the album’s third track and free download single ‘Take A Step.’ In fact it’s the album’s standout song with a heftier rhythm, pop sensability and a cracking vocal from Laura. It’s followed by a slower and more reflective beauty called  ‘And Celebrate’ with the album’s best vocal harmonies and another great melody.

Winding guitar opens ‘The Road To Freedom’ with its distinct country flavour, while tumbling piano notes introduces another country spiced highlight in ‘The Garden.’ ‘Apple Tree’ introduces a light gospel tone to proceedings with just the lightest percussive rhythm behind a beautiful acapella performance.

This is a lovely debut album and the product of writers and performers who have been practising their art for a good few years at venues around the country and at folk festivals. For a home recording the sound is excellent and one wonders just how much better it would sound on a larger recording budget - perhaps in the vocal area. The performances are passionate and sincere, the songs excellent, and I have no hesitation in recommending this album.

3.8/5