Greg Trooper: "Popular Demons" (Koch)
Songwriters are like wines. They have good years and bad years, but sometimes it all comes together perfectly. For American tune-smith Greg Trooper, that must have been the feeling during the recording sessions for Popular Demons. This is not just a great crop of songs - 13 self-penned plus one great Dylan cover - but a great album to boot, with producer Buddy Miller (yes, the man with the magic touch; check out his stunning solo albums) creating the ideal atmosphere for these songs to prosper. Trooper sounds and writes very like Mick Hanly. The first track, Halfway, with its chugging rhythms, could be straight out of the Irishman's back pocket. Trooper, whose songs have been covered by Maura O'Connell among others, is incredibly versatile. It's folkabilly with the emphasis on folk, but the songs switch from warm, embracing waltzes to Buddy Holly-influenced light rockers.
By Joe Breen
Martin Carthy: "Signs of Life" (Topic)
Now here's a quare one for die-hard traditionalists to swallow, a Bee Gees song covered by the ever-interesting Martin Carthy. And just to show that it did not slip in by stealth, there's also a version of Heartbreak Hotel. But fear not. Our hero has not lost his way. The Gibb Brothers' song is their haunting first hit, New York Mining Disaster 1941, and it receives a typically vivid reading. Elvis's Heart- break Hotel was apparently the first song Carthy learned from a record and his stab at a folk blues version is fascinating in a very English way, as are his reading of Dylan's The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll and Hoagy Carmichael's Hong Kong Blues. Apart from these, the material holds few surprises with his daughter Eliza's fiddle colouring well-known traditional tunes such as Sir Patrick Spens and Barbary Ellen. His voice and his guitar-picking remain in wonderful shape.
By Joe Breen
Maidhc Dainin O Se: "O Chicago go Carrachan" Clo Iar-Chonnachta
No musical pyrotechnics here, just aisy, homey seisiuns and songs from this Dingle accordionist, joined here by the two sons Caoimhin and Daithi on flute/whistles and banjo; and, on one rambly track, by Connemara musician Johnny Connolly, fiddler Noirin Ni Ghradaigh and harpist Aisling Ni Neachtain. Apart from the reels, there are lots of local-fare Kerry polkas and slides, played in no particular hurry, the bright wheeze of the accordion making great hay of them. O Se's voice has guttural attack and he renders some songs of his own (as well as Daithi's beautiful Eochaill) with great rhythm and feel, including one story-poem tribute to the late melodeonist Joe Cooley. Warm, simple and very traditional.
By Mic Moroney
