Siobhán Long hears two new releases.
CARMEL GUNNING
Corran Hill
L & M Records
***
South Sligo multi-instrumentalist Carmel Gunning has much to say on her fifth CD, Corran Hill. Director of the Queen Maeve Summer School, Gunning's palette stretches from Scottish ballads ( Érin Grá Mo Chroí) to classic slow airs and a pair of original tunes, rooted in her home place.
Her voice is well-suited to some of her song choices, particularly her version of The Geevagh Prisonersand Bí Aonach Amárach i gContaí an Chláir(realised in its original form here as An Gréasaí Bróg).
However, her choice of the Joe Heaney classic, Dónal Óg, is a bold one that challenges her vocals, and suffers from an underinvestment of emotion, and Katy Dalyis a song worn ragged by Dessie O'Halloran's devil-may-care treatment.
www.carmelgunning.com
SIOBHÁN LONG
Download tracks: An Gréasaí Bróg, The Geevagh Prisoners
BEN LENNON & TONY O'CONNELL
Rossinver Braes
Cló Iar Chonnachta
****
If music can have a glint in its eye, then Leitrim fiddler Ben Lennon and Limerick concertina player Tony O'Connell's Rossinver Braesis full of what Patrick Kavanagh called "the wink and elbow language of delight".
Like a courting couple, Lennon's and O'Connell's instruments coalesce with the synergy of tango dancers. Populated by a scattering of delicious tunes composed by Ben's brother, Charlie (who also lends some gorgeously plaintive fiddle on The Fiddler Mick Hoy), and some tasty borrowings from both the Sligo/Leitrim and Clare/Limerick regions (alongside a lovely original from Ben himself, Ben's Arrival), this is genteel and gracious music - of another time and yet of this time, too.
The subtlest of bouzouki and guitar accompaniment from Alec Finn and Jerry McNamara add further to the riches of this sprightly, fleet-footed collection.
[ www.cic.ieOpens in new window ]
SIOBHÁN LONG
