The music of The Gloaming connects to the soul like no other, and The Gloaming 3 is an even wider exploration of the possibilities that music presents. The peerless understanding of the tradition that Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh bring, unite with the ancient and contemporary voices that seem to emerge directly from Iarla Ó Lionáird’s soul, all underpinned by the elemental constancy of Thomas Bartlett’s piano, and his ubiquitous presence as producer. The Gloaming 3 is a bold, beguiling, magnificent album.
He has carved out a niche as a poet of mental disintegration, a chronicler of very real and very difficult human emotions. But his songs are not without hope. Atomise is perhaps his darkest and most hopeful album to date. It is certainly his most expansive and fully realised.
The Orphan Brigade – To The Edge of the World
Possessed of the beauty and wildness of its settings, this is yet another compelling album, to borrow from the location in which it was born, a veritable Giant’s Causeway of music, lyrics and atmosphere.
Thom Ashworth is in the vanguard of a new generation of protest singers. His songwriting is political, intelligent and full of impact. His ability to put these songs to melodies that work with the words adds immensely and yet Thom also shows that he can sing the traditional stuff as well, and as well as – and in the majority of cases, better than – the next man. I’m not going to do comparisons, but they know who they are, and it is very good to know that as one generation moves on, another, younger generation is already making their mark. Outstanding.
The album’s title is perfect, this is Tim being himself, producing music with the spontaneity, energy, virtuosity and emotion that are the trademarks of his live performances. Tim again shows himself to be a musician who simply cannot be pigeon-holed, neither in terms of the instruments he excels at playing nor the styles of music he chooses. The only relevant pigeon-hole for Tim is one labelled “Brilliant”.
Toby Hay: New Music For The 12 String Guitar
I say it is full of human warmth, but it is also tinged with wildness, and this I think is the beauty of Toby Hay, and of New Music For The 12 String Guitar in particular: he is able to convey multiple different emotions and represent multiple objects or landscapes, often simultaneously, and all with nothing more than a single instrument. This is the sign of a master musician at work, and Hay certainly fits that description. It is only two years since his debut and he is already one of the finest guitarists of his generation.
Todd Snider: Cash Cabin Sessions, Vol. 3
Gripping from start to finish, here is Another Side Of Todd Snider: piercing, precise, bare but still as eccentric as ever. Cash Cabin Sessions, Vol. 3 earns its place right up there with the very best of Snider’s sprawling back catalogue.
Tom Russell: October in the Railroad Earth
A songwriter, musician, author and artist who is represented by six major world galleries and whose work can be found in several major museums, Russell is the very definition of a Renaissance man. Rolling Stone once declared Russell to be “the greatest living folk-country songwriter”. This album offers no reason to disagree.
Topette!! is an extremely sociable animal, and the pleasure its five members derive from playing together spreads like proverbial wildfire to its listeners with the result that Rhododendron is one of those rare instrumental – and dance-oriented – albums which gives virtually equal proportions of cerebral and visceral pleasure. Seriously recommended.
Vera Van Heeringen: Won’t Be Broken
It’s an album that worked for me on two levels; firstly that it was simply perfect to have on while driving around in the summer sun but secondly, there was an abundance to uncover when sat at home, lyric sheet spread out in front of me, really going deep into the messages and stories behind the songs. The record makes for a strong set so don’t be surprised if your first instinct is to go straight back to the start and play this mature, rich song cycle over and over again.
Ye Vagabonds: The Hare’s Lament
It is fitting that the album should conclude with a song that was popularised by the likes of Andy Irvine because in certain respects Ye Vagabonds are true heirs to bands like Sweeney’s Men and Planxty. But they are much more than that besides: they possess an exhilarating contemporary edge, and their grasp of traditional material is sensitive without ever being conservative. Irish folk music is in a very healthy state at the moment and with The Hare’s Lament, Ye Vagabonds have emerged as its most accomplished exponents.