I like The Whittakers, and I like A Slice of The Whittakers.

There are many ways to judge an album when you write a review – a whole bunch of criteria, such as recording quality, musicianship and songwriting skill – but one big thing for me is whether I like something.

That's not actually as bleedin' obvious as it sounds. I've reviewed more than a few albums stuffed full of praiseworthy elements which I have admired tremendously, but never really liked them. I like A Slice of The Whittakers.

The Whittakers are a local five-piece folk band whose style leans towards Irish. The band is fronted by the twin voices, guitars and mandolins of Richard Grautstuck and Mitz Amores, with rhythm section support from Dave Williams on bass and drummer Harvey Win.

The fifth member is the band's ace in the hole and plays everything else: multi-instrumentalist Robbie Laven again proves himself invaluable with contributions on fiddle, whistle, banjo, lap steel, acoustic and electric guitars and percussion, often in combination, giving the band a far bigger sound than you'd expect from a mere five members.

There are 15 songs all up - seven of them from Richard, two instrumentals and seven well-chosen covers.

Covers

One reason I like The Whittakers is their covers.

If I might briefly float a party metaphor, it's always good when you go to a mate's party and find you like all their friends as well. Those friends are the cover songs. And The Whittakers have picked covers I really like: a couple of Pogues tunes, one from the great John Hartford and a favourite Guy Clark song.

More importantly, they don't bugger them up.

There's nothing worse than having a well-loved tune destroyed. Never fear, The Whittakers replicate the Pogues' gender-swapping approach to I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day and Mitz delivers it with the same restraint that Richard applies to Thousands Are Sailing, while Dave brings a beautifully understated delivery to Magnolia Wind.

But I'm sure the band are more concentrated on their original tunes and they are an interesting bunch. Richard writes an individual lyric and his songs are both evocative and thoughtful. A song contemplating once youthful companions is sung by Mitz and The Old School Playground is quite touching, while Newky Brown and Lager is a delightful daydream about hanging out with Dexys Midnight Runners and The Pogues (and Ozzy Osbourne!).

Mellow

On this and elsewhere, Richard's delivery is remarkably mellow – he has a very soft voice which makes for the occasional unusual effect, such as on his song Pirates of Debauchery, which reminds one of the Pogues at their wildest but whose smooth delivery seems at odds with the rough subject matter.

But mostly it works fine. The Long Walk Home from Bristol band Billy In The Lowground has hints of Dire Straits with some fine Robbie Laven guitar, while Richard's insightful The Bus Station Nutter offers an unusual string-based arrangement that sits between classical and psychedelic.

Robbie's playing, which orchestrates and colours each song, is remarkable not only in its skill but in its variety both sonically and stylistically. He does so much both obvious and incredibly subtle (fiddle doubled with 'invisible” distorted electric guitar and much more) that it really is a musical tour de force.

Of course things aren't perfect. The album was recorded pretty swiftly at Tim Julian's Welcome Bay studio The Colourfield, and the rush shows in the occasional bit of shaky timing.

But, as I started by saying, I like The Whittakers.

I don't know them at all, but there is something honest and unassuming on display here and their music is all the better for it.

Going back to that party metaphor, A Slice of The Whittakers made me think of an annual bash I used to go to at a friend's place. It always happened in his garage and we'd all sit around with a few guitars and other instruments and sing favourites. The Whittakers are a bit like that, and they've produced an album that is just as warm and welcoming.