Drivin' Leitrim Timber Claddagh Records***

Here’s one that slipped beneath the radar in 2010, mostly due to so many other fine traditional albums released in what was a bumper year. Leitrim flute player Dave Sheridan’s second album is a joy, a thoughtfully organised collection that celebrates a fluid, free-flowing regional flute style, shot through with just enough sharp edges to keep the listener’s antennae on high alert for the next hairpin bend. Sheridan’s generosity is everywhere evident in the arrangements, with guitar, bouzouki, bass, harmonica, piano and bodhrán subtly bolstering the tunes. An occasional drop in pace would have been welcome, as reels and jigs dominate the set list, but there’s enough heart and soul in Sheridan’s playing to counter the high velocity. A welcome counterpoint to the inertia that’s seized the country of late. See claddaghrecords. com