MUIREANN Nic AMHLAOIBH

As its name suggests, this album is a tribute to the maritime world since each track refers to the sea or a marine theme. Not really surprising when you consider that Muireann was born on the west coast of Kerry, that her Irish first name means "maiden of the sea" and that there are three mermaids on the Mac Amhlaoibh clan's coat of arms.

For the occasion Muireann has combined her two passions, song and the sea. And the result is really beautiful although too short. The first song was written by poet and sailor Danny Sheehy, urging the listener to connect land and sea for solace. The rest of the album follows, with the other five songs celebrating the same theme.

The third, for example, is a song from Kerry wishing a fisherman good luck for a safe return home. Muireann's song continues with a very lively instrumental on which she reminds us that, apart from being a singer with a superb deep voice, she is also an outstanding flute player. The song Blackwatersidehas been performed many times, notably by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan on the album Blackwaterin 1996.

As for the track Port na bPúcaí, a song from the Blasket Islands, it is a real jewel, Muireann is accompanied by her husband Billy Mac Fhloinn on the yaybahar, a stringed instrument of Turkish origin whose vibrations are transmitted to two drums. Here again, a plethora of guest musicians, the number of which is inversely proportional to the brevity of the album. Let's mention some of them: Gerry O'Beirne, Dónal O'Connor, Niamh Varian-Barry, Julie Fowlis, Donogh Hennessy, Séamus Begley... A much too short album that calls for a sequel.

Autoproduit – www.muireann.ie