Passenger PIAS****

Her first album unexpectedly took her around the world and back again, which may go some way to explaining why it’s taken Lisa Hannigan three years to follow up the venerated

Sea Sew. Passenger

, recorded with Joe Henry, bears the fruit of Hannigan’s travels in more ways than one. It’s a bigger, bolder album than its predecessor, the Meath woman finding new ways to blend her trademark “plinky plonk rock” with a sound that’s progressive but cosily charming as well. She succeeds thrillingly on the quirky

Knots

and a temperate duet with Ray LaMontagne (

O Sleep

), while her lyric sheet is concerned with the idea of home, stability and love as much as it references her globe-traipsing. There’s no sense of passive spectator here - Hannigan sounds both comfortable and confident in the driving seat.

See lisahannigan.ie

Download tracks:

Knots, A Sail