It's often difficult to separate Eleanor McEvoy from her work on
A Woman's Heart.
Still, this stalwart of the Irish music scene has enjoyed a successful solo career in the decades since that album's release. Her 10th album unites several strands of her past: heartfelt solo material, several covers and a jaunty collaboration (
Secret of Living
) with the likes of Mary Coughlan, Sharon Shannon and Gemma Hayes. The overall tone is one of bluesy ballads, but while her tender take on Cyndi Lauper 's
True Colors
is better than her overly austere piano-based rendering of
God Only Knows,
the perky
Ache in My Heart
brings much-needed sweet sharpness. It's not the most sensational collection, but rather one that simmers and nourishes with reliable ease.
Eleanormcevoy. com
Download:
Ache in My Heart, True Colors