From the outset, jazz, funk and Manx traditional music may not seem like to most obvious of bed-fellows.

But, with the release of their debut album, Clash Vooar have shown that the very different styles can get along quite nicely.

The six-piece group, whose name translates as ’Big Groove’, released ’Rumours of Unease’ at a concert held at the Whitehouse, in Peel, last week.

The nine-track album features an eclectic mix of songs, many of which are based around Manx traditional tunes and songs, created and sung by Aalin Clague and flautist Breesha Maddrell, set to an irresistable funk and soul rhythm, made up of drummer Danny Kneale, bass player Dave Mclean and Anglin Buttimore on keyboards.

An extra dynamic edge to the music is added by Robert Cain, who weaves ukelele and electronic samples into the mix.

One of the most striking elements about Clash Vooar is the use of Manx Gaelic in the songs, many of them written by Aalin, who also teaches at the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh.

’We do have a total mixture of things, and some are in Manx, some are in English and some are half-and-half,’ said Aalin.

’Some of them started off as traditional Manx songs, and then evolved into something else, and some started as riffs and jams, to which I put some words together. They are all Manx in their own way.

’We have one that we have given an Eastern European sound , that began as a jam which I worked on, and the rhythm stuck with me as something that could go with the song "Roie Ben Juan Tammy".

’Quite often it is the rhythm I go with and I just shape the melody to go with whatever else everybody is doing.

’I like the idea that the Manx language is alive and that you can do lots of different things with it,’ she added.

’Its a live language and it has to be open to whatever influences we can have in this day and age. You don’t have to stick to one genre just because you are singing in Manx.’

The band formed three years ago, after Aalin worked with Dave on a project about the cultural historian Mona Douglas.

Dave had already been working with Anglin, a very well-known and popular personality in Manx music, and his brother, Simon Buttimore, who tragically died two years ago.

’Simon was the bassist at the time and he was the steady groove of the group, a wonderful bass player,’ said Aalin.

’He was also very knowledgeable about so many different types of music, and it would be great to listen to him and Anglin chatting, as they had this huge wealth of knowledge between them.

’Simon was also very encouraging to me to get my cornet out and play it. He knew I had one and he encouraged me to play it more.’

’Rumours of Unease’, which features an original piece of cover art from the Peel-based artist Bruno Cavellec, is available from the Clash Vooar Bandcamp page for £10 for a CD copy, or £6 as a download.

by Mike Wade

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