Lover's Ghost

WITH EACH successive album, Cran's music has matured like whiskey in a cask. From the opening bars of the first track 'Erin' you know instinctively that something special is afoot.

This inventive approach is sustained throughout - the listener is always engaged with the music, whether it be the cracking pace of 'Na Ceannabhain', its power given an extra zing by the use of a flat set of pipes, or on the brief and lovely nonsense of 'It's Bo', a piece of mouth music which clocks in at under a minute in duration.

There is much to mesmerise in here, too - 'Stolen Bride' is just amazing, all three voices in harmony against Sean Corcoran's lead - but the trump card is the 'Newry Boat Song', with its monastic style opening. It's a song of unrequited love, sung both in Scots Gaelic and English.

With Lover's Ghost, Cran have ensured that their reputation will gain further and deserved momentum. This is a lovely album where new discoveries about music will be made, with each successive listen. Enjoy.