EchoSelf release ***

As she notes on her Bandcamp page, where this album is now available as a name-your- own-price download, Niamh de Barra finished work on Echo some 18 months ago and it's finally getting a "better later than never" release. Those who know de Barra from her superb Cusp EP from some time back will immediately recognise her warm, intricate, beautifully wayward way of using cello, voice and electronics to turn traditional forms into distinctively modern works. But it's not just the instrumentation – once rough around the edges, de Barra's songwriting has found a new momentum and now is more than a match for her sonic craftwork. While it's usually de Barra's experimental edge that garners ink and plaudits, do not overlook the compositional accomplishment of Spooked and Foxhole. niamhdebarra.bandcamp.com

Download tracks: Spooked, Foxhole

Listen to Niamh De Barra on The Ticket's Newfound Sounds podcast on irishtimes.com