Naked With Friends

It’s all in the title really. The “nakedness” refers to O’Connell courageously exposing her voice on an album unadorned by any musical instrument. The “friends”, meanwhile, are an impressive bunch of singers who join her on an astute selection of songs, including tunes by Elvis Costello, Janis Ian and Joan Armatrading.
Dolly Parton and Kate Rusby help out on Jimmy McCarthy’s ‘Bright Blue Rose’, while O’Connell’s voice blends deliciously with the Settles Connection Choir on Costello’s ‘Shipbuilding’. Elsewhere, Paul Brady joins her for a rousing ‘Anach Cuain’. Alone, she takes on Armatrading’s ‘Weakness In Me’ with indifferent results. However, a stirring version of Holly Near’s Spanish language ‘Hay Una Mujer Desapercida’, which O’Connell sings with Aine Derrane and Sarah Dugas, is a real gem. Special respect, too, to legendary American dobro player Jerry Douglas, who passes his oral Irish exam on ‘Mo Sheamuseen’. Elsewhere you’ll find Alison Krauss, Liam Bradley, Moya Brennan, Mary Black and Declan O’Rourke.
The solo voice can be hard work for some listeners, but O’Connell’s has an elemental earthiness that disarms you with its natural warmth.