Westward

One half of Irish duo Lumiere, with Pauline Scanlon, Éilís Kennedy hails from Dingle, Co Kerry in the west of Ireland. The rugged coastlines and untouched natural beauty of the area have certainly translated into this honest and authentic collection of songs, her third solo album. A favourite of Irish singers, ‘John O'Dreams’ by Bill Caddick opens the album, setting the tone for the remaining ten tracks. It's a softly sung, beautiful version accompanied by co-producer William Coulter on guitar and Barry Phillip's rich cello. The listener is not short-changed of traditional ballads on this album either – whether it be Irish, American or Scottish. ‘Cailín mo Rún-sa’ again showcases Kennedy's organic vocal, backed by a stunning arrangement for cello, fiddle and Jesse Autumn's harp. Kennedy makes her songwriting debut with ‘Highway Mack’, based on an experience she had while travelling in the US and ‘The Flannel Red’, an Irish lament inspired by the story of her great grandfather who drowned near Dingle. One of the more uptempo numbers, ‘Saucy Sailor’, follows, providing a melodically contrasting section between ballads. The closing, ‘Going Home’, acts as an apt bookend to this collection of songs heavily influenced by tradition. There is nothing groundbreaking here, but it is a beautiful offering that is sure to delight many listeners.