- Music
- 11 Nov 03
Full marks for originality go to this certifiably unique combination of Irish and Jewish songs.
Full marks for originality go to this certifiably unique combination of Irish and Jewish songs. A Dublin native who studied under Veronica Dunne, Nelkin has chosen his material from the stagy rather than the folky side of both traditions, and it’s a good match: sentimental classics of Yiddish vaudeville like ‘Vos Geven iz Geven Un Nito’ aren’t a million miles away from such parlour chestnuts as ‘Love Thee, Dearest’ and ‘Little Bridget Flynn’. I can’t help thinking that much of the album would have sounded a lot better pitched a key or two lower, and the synth backing is far too heavy throughout; those quibbles aside, this is a fine and fascinating debut.