The Teds new album 'You, Me and The Sea Between Us' is available now to buy from the online shop and iTunes, Irish Music Mail, Amazon and CDBaby and various other retail stores in the UK and Ireland

See below what the music critics are saying...

  ALBUM REVIEWS

Review by Michael W Thomas

The Teds' new album rings all the changes you could wish for: wistful, fierce, lyrical, passionate and a fistful of other adjectives yet to be coined. With songs and lead vocals by Rich McMahon and top-of-their-game musicianship from Emma Millman, Mark McCabe, Paddy Power, Ian Reid and Rich himself, *You, Me and the Sea Between Us *takes the listener from Skibbereen to London and (almost) New York, from the straight path of resolve to the
pub where all good intent is dumped outside, from the mansions of the past to the high road of the future. As if all this weren't enough, the middle of the running order showcases a pair of sumptuous instrumentals, 'The Traveller's Cloak / Lights of Lobinstown,' composed by Emma and Mark. If you find yourself listening to it while driving-don't. Find a layby, switch off the engine, take your hands from the wheel, start the track again and lose yourself in it. (You know it makes sense: this warning is brought to you by the Campaign for Responsible Listening.)

Loves lost or never found, escapes variously made and thwarted,
the ravages of time on landscapes and the human face: all of these are dramatised through vocals that range from full-on to aching, through playing that is mellow without being loose, powerful without being strident. The song's characters plan mightily for their lives and futures. Sometimes the plans come off; sometimes, as in 'Journey's End,' they are forever pending, as the singer slips down to the pub of that name for one more drink with the lads before setting off for a new life in the New World. His passport and
suitcase are in permanent readiness. He, however, is not, since there is forever the matter of a last glass of stout to address: one more for the ditch, so to speak. Leaving on a jet plane was never this problematic. Sometimes the suitcase belongs to someone else: Rosie, for example, in the song of that name, who drags it onto a bus, leaving her town behind and the man who never declared his love for her. (But, dammit, he will: just pass him over
another glass and he'll . . . any minute now, he'll . . . just you watch . . . .)

One of the beauties of the album is the way that, on several
tracks, lyrics and music work at enriching odds with each other. 'The Sea Between Us' and 'The Grave That Takes My Name' variously treat dashed hopes, regret and bittersweet reflection. On both, the music drives along but, far from overwhelming such themes, it sharpens them memorably. And the music drives further, imbuing the last track, 'My True Home,' with a feel that turns from blues to jazz and back again. Touches of zydeco and funk
(courtesy of Ian's supple bass) also spring delightful ambushes throughout the album.

Mention should finally be made of 'The Paddy's Day Parade,' which
has captured the attention of Rolf Harris, Folk-rock-Australo-Celtic-crossover-is there nowhere
the Teds can't go?

Michael W. Thomas, author, singer, musician  www.michaelwthomas.co.uk

Review by Kath Deighton (Folk Monthy Magazine June 2010)

The Teds are described as "An Irish Folk Band for our times". Their music certainly has a very traditional Celtic feel and this album tackles the Irish immigrant experience over several generations and universal themes of exile, love and longing. The difference here though is that the songs are contemporary and the band is based in Birmingham. The band recruited singer/songwriter Rich McMahon in early 2008, as they to add to the Irish folk music tradition by writing their own songs and "You, Me and The Sea Between US" is an initail step towards realising that vision.

There are five members in The Teds, playing a variety of instruments including Guitar, Fiddle, Bodhran, Bass, Whistles and Banjo and several of the band have been Midlands and All-Britain champions in their field. One of the first things I noticed about the songs was that I could hear every word. Even the range of instruments playing the melodies, the balance of the sound is expertly handled and I was able to take in the meaning of the songs. There was also a good range of styles, drawing on elements of Cajun, Rock and Country to add to the traditional Irish folk style because, yes, it does sound traditional and that is the most certainly a achievement.

The first track, The Sea Between Us, is very up tempo and would certainly entice an audience onto the dance floor. It has a very catchy chorus - a positive feature of many of the songs - which will get people singing along. It does have rather a sad theme of modern emigration, so you need to get used to very upbeat music accompanying sad words. This is also the case with Hands That Built London and The Grave That Takes My Name - sad, but upbeat sounding.

Galvin Road is slower, with a good melody and the clever repeat of words, making the song sound instantly familiar and The Straight Path, one of my favourites, is again a slow melody, with a lovely use of instruments, all of which can be heardindividually, but create a perfect overall sound.

Beauty All Around has a lovely whistle introduction and good harmonies on the chorus and I really liked the bodhran playing in Mansion By The River.

The Paddy's Day Parade is based on Birmingham's St Patricks's celebrations and has achieved significant success, not least coming to the attention of Rolf Harris. He liked the song so much that the band were invited to work with him. Let's hope that there are positive results because The Teds deserve wider recognition. They have created a contemporary album with a truly traditional feel. It is impossible not to tap your feet and sing along and I am looking forward to seeing a live performance.

Review by Peter Stevenson (Music Maker Magazine June 2010)

There was always a danger that this review was going to begin with a diatribe about the unlikeliest and misleadingof band names. Contracted from a certain Irish ecclesiastic comedy and so presenting an unintentional allusion towards suspect 50's culture, fashion trend and anti-social behaviour, was initially a little worrying, despite cover suggestions to the contary. Turn to the music and it's apparent that this bunch of traditional Irish folk music interpreters might just be ready to inherit the heritage laid down by the likes of The Dubliners and The Pogues - for it is in the shadow of such illustrious forebears the The Teds strive to rant and roar. You, Me and The Sea Between Us is a thrilling, energised debut and testament to the band's interplay and the musicianship of it's five members. Indeed, one R.Harris was so impressed when the band's publisher played him The Paddy's Day Parade (The Teds 2009 single - included here) that he spent time recording a side-project with them.

Can you tell what it is yet? Comprising twelve tracks that address the Irish imiigrant experience along with universal themes of exile, love and longing, this impressive album embraces a wide range of Irish and folk styles which encompass up-tempo numbers, ballads, waltzes and on to the obigatory jigs and reels.