IAN SMITH

Of Scottish origin, he settled in Donegal many years ago and spent more than half his life there. A tireless defender of traditional music and folk song, he has greatly contributed to promoting it through all the concerts he has organized in Donegal over the past twenty years. He waited eight long years before giving us a new opus, Last Call. Less marked by Irish tradition than the previous one, this album gives pride of place to Ian's compositions, who in addition to being a talented guitarist, turns out to be a leading composer and singer.

Last Call delivers fourteen tracks that reveal treasures of sensitivity written by a man of heart. Opening When it snows in New York City, which is reminiscent of Canadian singer Joni Mitchell. Thirteen other songs composed by Ian, Conor Bowman or Enda Cullen followed. Whether he tells the dramatic story of an Irish woman during the gold rush - Lady Overland, sings about street children in Guatemala - Pablo's Eyes, or talks about the world's problems - Last Call, Arabica Blues, Ian Smith is a storyteller who is attentive to everything around him. At random tracks we find Restless Heart, which appeared on his first album, and the magnificent Keadue Strand, which Ian contemplates from his window.

Recorded in Germany, the album received the support of German musicians including Jens Komminck (Iontach). And as a special guest, country singer Tim O'Brien. In all, fifty minutes of quietude and happiness shared by a songwriter who deserves to be better known in our country.

Stockfisch Records SFR 357.4094.2 - www.stockfisch-records.de