Album Review: Peter O'Toole – Leaving White Cedar

When the world went into lockdown, the Hothouse Flowers had to cancel tour dates in places ranging from Glastonbury to Serbia to Lake Como.

Not to be deterred by the Coronavirus, Peter O'Toole set straight to work on his solo album, Leaving White Cedar. The multi-instrumentalist had one microphone on which to record, writing and producing the largely instrumental work at home in Tipperary during the pandemic.

Mixing elements of rock with Irish traditional music – and occasionally the odd electronic influence or worldly instrument – O'Toole creates an earthy, natural folk landscape. The gentle, meandering stroll of 'Purple Daisy' resolves into a jig that pays homage to O'Toole's traditional roots, where tracks like 'Wild Daffodils' and lean firmly into a more experimental sound.

O'Toole also put together a short film of ten tracks from Leaving White Cedar, called 10 tunes 10 Instruments 1 Musician. The film plays out like a live set, as though you're at a home gig, watching him play those tracks live on his vast catalogue of intriguing instruments – ranging from the acoustic guitar to the bouzouki.

The film came about after O'Toole was granted the Covid Grant from The Arts Council Of Ireland, and it's a good thing, too: Leaving White Cedar will be a treat for fans everywhere.

• 7/10
• Out now. 

Watch 10 Tunes 10 Instruments 1 Musician below, and purchase Leaving White Cedar here.