ALBUM REVIEW: Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party - 'Orfeo'

Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party, Orfeo (Topic Records, 2012)

"Singing with a poise and gravitas that breathes life into the characterful lyrics of Orfeo, she delivers a performance that is at all times compassionate, regularly exhibiting dramatic vivaciousness, and at other times a more subdued and fragile charm... this hearty, full-bodied release embodies a substance and breadth that is likely to garner much acclaim, and must surely confirm Hield as the Maddy Prior or June Tabor for a new generation of folk connoisseurs."

Read the entire review on Folk Radio UK:
http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2012/05/fay-hield-the-hurricane-party-orfeo-plus-golden-ticket-giveaway/

http://www.fayhield.com/

ALBUM REVIEW: Rachel Hair Trio - 'No More Wings'

Rachel Hair Trio, No More Wings (March Hair Records, 2012)

"Proving to be increasingly versatile and innovative, Rachel Hair returns with her third recording, this time placing the harp in the midst of a dynamic trio, featuring the double bass of Euan Burton, alongside the guitar and vocals of Jenn Butterworth. Even in this company, it is the shimmering character of the harp and the unequivocal passion of Rachel's playing that forms the backbone of the recording, flooding the senses with its bold and frivolous spirit one minute, and with its nimble subtleties the next."

Read the entire review on Folk Radio UK:
http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2012/05/rachel-hair-trio-no-more-wings/

http://www.rachelhair.com/

ALBUM REVIEW: Cathy Jordan - 'All the Way Home'

Cathy Jordan, All the Way Home (Blix Street Records, 2012)

Dervish front-woman, Cathy Jordan finally presents her eagerly anticipated debut solo album. A more sparse offering than the vibrant sounds produced by Dervish, All The Way Home presents an opportunity to focus on Jordan's vocal prowess, and it's an opportunity that rewards the listener handsomely. A largely subdued affair, with some inspired and original interpretations of familiar traditional material, it frequently allows Jordan the opportunity to demonstrate a subtle yet utterly disarming potency.

Minimal accompaniment alongside a sparse but determined vocal restores the humanity and poignancy to stories that have long been lost within the high jinx of beer-swilling, bawdy sing-alongs. Suddenly, "Bold Fenian Men" is less a triumphant celebration of rebellion, and more a moving personal recollection of individual characters, their families and the heart-wrenching realities of a lifetime's struggle. "Eileen McMahon" is delivered as a beautifully sumptuous duet with Eddi Reader, and yields a similarly unique and solitary tale, making a devastatingly stirring impression.

With lyrics built from the excerpts of a Patrick Devine poem, "In Curraghroe" is worth singling out, offering an insight in to the loneliness of rural life alongside the rapturous joys of the sights, sounds and smells of the surrounding landscape.

There are moments of exuberance here too, nestled amongst the earnest memories. Punctuating the more candid, personal tales are a few instrumental tracks featuring contemporary compositions, written firmly within the Irish traditional style, that speak of life's pleasures with a spirit and energy that words could not match. "Ould Ballymoe" takes a fair shot at this however, offering a carefree and colourful vignette of village life.

Jordan's voice is instantly recognisable, with a diction and tone that maintains her Irish accent prominently, contributing to her distinctive, unique sound. The very fact that Jordan's voice alone has so much to offer means that the "less is more" maxim is certainly something that works well for her, and further exploration of the more stripped-back production that works so well here would doubtlessly produce a timeless, attractive and edifying body of work.

www.cathyjordan.com