Latest CD releases reviewed

PÁDRAIG Ó CEARBHALL
Amhráin na Séad An Béal Binn
***

Limerick traditional singer, Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill brings a sweet and light touch to a swagload of songs, on his debut, Amhráin na Séid/Jewels and Pathways. It's a circuitous route he travels, airing such gems as Michael Hartnett's translation of Aogán Ó Rathaille's 1725 poem, Valentine Browne, and the big Corca Dhuibhne song, Comhairle D'fhearaibh Óga. Ó Cearbhaill's voice is crystalline, his delivery deceptively simple and unfettered by over-decoration, which makes this song collection hugely accessible to all comers, stalwart and novice alike. Accompanied by forensic sleeve notes that capture the seed, breed and generation of every song, Amhráin na Séid is a fine addition to the tradition and will surely inform repertoires of emerging singers from the Déise to Dun Chaoin - and probably well beyond. Siobhán Long

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Oldtime Records Vol 1: US Recordings Claddagh Records
***

Vintage records, like vintage clothes, have their own particular charm which is often lost on the general browser. This eclectic collection of recordings from the 1920s and '30s is a masterclass in the spirit and verve that suffused Stateside emigrant Irish music, none of it previously re-released on CD. Understandably variable in quality, there's a remarkable lift to these rare snapshots of such maestros as the Flanagan Brothers (whose Molly-O was rejuvenated by Maura O'Connell and De Danann some six decades after the original recording), melodeon player PJ Conlon, and the great pair of Sligo fiddlers James Morrison and Paddy Killoran. Definitely not for the casual listener, but for those in search of the pulse that fired Irish music abroad, this is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. www.oldtimerecords.com Siobhán Long