There are songs you might never wish to hear again until a singer of the sheer quality of Cathy Jordan re-energises them in a style you never imagined possible. The Dervish diva does it often on her debut solo album, delving back to her early Roscommon years for songs sung around the house and mixing them with fresh material.
What’s striking from the off is the sheer depth and warmth of Jordan’s voice as she sprinkles her magic over the rebel ballad ‘The Bold Fenian Men’ to bring history back to life. There’s an exquisite ‘The Lark In The Clear Air’ too. Eddi Reader joins her for a heart-warming ‘Eileen McMahon’ that gets an adventurous, acoustic Lanois-esque treatment. Jordan imbues ‘Banks Of The Foyle’ with a moving sense of the indelible connection to one’s home place. She wrote the deliciously evocative ‘The Road I Go’ with Brendan Graham, while her own ‘The River Field Waltz’ is a fine addition to the tradition.
Much praise is due to such musical sidekicks as Andy Irvine, Rick Epping and Michael McGoldrick, and Roger Tallroth’s production provides acres of space for Jordan’s sublime voice to shine as never before. If there’s only one folk/trad/world music album you buy this year, make it this one.
JACKIE HAYDEN