Solid Ground

Mayo-born banjo player Shane Mulchrone makes a solid debut with his first long-player, Solid Ground. A veteran of the live circuit, he makes much of his West of Ireland heritage here, in an intelligently assembled recital played with consummate technique. Noticeable above all is his relaxed, elegantly understated manner. It comes into its own in a brace of lightly thrown-off schottisches, some free-flowing jigs and reels and an altogether infectious coupling of the barn dances ‘O’Flynn's Fancy’ and ‘Delaney's Donkey’ that deftly pays tribute to the Flanagan Brothers and 1920s-era Irish-American dance halls. Played on an aching tenor banjo and supported by the low drone of Heather Cole-Mullen's melodeon, ‘Cuaichín Ghleann Néifinn’ is a mesmerising slow air based on a lachrymose sean nós song, dispatched with antique poise and prettiness. There's also a dexterous coupling of ‘Fowley's Mazurka’ and ‘Billy's Boffin Waltz’ with Mulchrone swapping banjo for tenor guitar.

Co-produced by Ensemble Éiru's Jack Talty (who also guests on piano and accordion alongside Noel O’Grady on bouzouki), the recorded sound is vivid and vital and the informative booklet (with Mulchrone's own notes) is beautifully illustrated. Finger-pickin’ good.