KIERAN GOSS: “New Day” (Dara)

One of Ireland’s finest songwriters, Kieran Goss’ contribution to his partnership with Frances Black and to the media circus which the Woman’s Heart marathon eventually became, was considerably undervalued. His chirpy, cheery persona belies the fact that behind the grin is a writer of rare substance, who loves to explore the abstruse and the angular, and who in the heel of the hunt invests his words and his music with a hint of magic.

New Day represents quite a development from his first solo outing, Brand New Star. Lyrically it’s more measured and thoughtful, even downbeat on occasions. It speaks of sundered relationships and missed chances, failure to communicate and good old-fashioned love – but does so in a way that offers a fresh perspective on such subjects. Little is left to chance, there is no spare flesh on the joint, and the whole picture is beautifully finished off by inspired musicianship from the likes of Goss himself, Liam Bradley and Ted Ponsonby, and, among the guests, Máire Breathnach on fiddle and viola, and Rod McVey on keyboards, in particular. Theirs is a beautiful sound, with Ponsonby’s dobro in particular shimmering in the moonlight.

I was particularly drawn to three songs on the first couple of hearings of the album. ‘Take A Look At My Heart’, with its direct lyric is an appeal for understanding of a hurt hidden from the world, while ‘Twisting And Turning’ has echoes of the influence of Irish traditional music which he so frequently avows. The deconstruction job on the Four Tops ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ is just beautiful, a fine song given an even prettier sheen by careful restoration.

As time goes by, I have no doubt that New Day will insinuate its way still further into my heart and my subconscious – but I have to say that on the first couple of turns, I’m smitten.

• Oliver P. Sweeney