If Paul Simon and Sting took guitar lessons from an acrobat of the fretboard like Adrian Legg they might make albums like Albert Niland. For Niland has a mellifluously fluent guitar style that encompasses the classical and the Flamenco, and his voice is also pleasantly effortless, containing just the merest trace of his native Galwegian accent.
The opening track, ‘One Of These Times’, is set alight by the use of some fiery Flamenco dancing, and the raw energy of that music comes through again on ‘Color’ and ‘The Seven Year Itch’. Niland is joined by Freddie White for the excellent ‘Dirty Day’ and he combines with Martin O’Connor’s plaintive sun-drenched accordion to stunning effect on the heavily Sonny Condell-like ‘Sea Of Love’.
Ireland may be awash with competent singer-songwriters, but we have few guitar players of the fluency and dramatic impact of Albert Niland. Check him out.