The Voyage

Duhan’s pedigree stretches back to his founding membership of '60s act Granny’s Intentions and encompasses a later songwriting career that has seen his generally dark and introspective songs covered by Christy Moore (as in the title track here), Mary Black, Francie Conway and Dolores Keane.
His sombre voice conveys little optimism in the delivery of songs about the perils of family life and marriage, although if you search through the sparse arrangements and his stark lyrics you’ll find glimmers of hope here and there. But it’s a difficult, not always pleasurable, search. ‘Cornerstone’ and ‘In Our Father’s Name’ carry a Springsteen tension in plaintive songs that respectively acknowledge the role of Duhan’s wife in the domestic scheme and the need to bridge rifts in extended families.
The title song has less lightness than Christy’s radio-friendly version, a reflection, perhaps of subtly different individual voyages and philosophies. The pain of love in ‘Brian’s Song’, about Duhan’s son, is real and palpable. ‘Aoibheann and Alanna’ is meant to celebrate the joys of the birth of his daughters, but little of that joy comes through the speakers, although ‘When You Appeared’ conveys genuine delight at the birth of new life.
The album, at 30 minutes, is short even by vinyl standards, but Duhan brings a sense of reality to his vivid, piercing songs that few other performers dare. It doesn’t always make for easy listening, but then the same could be said of life.