THERESE McINERNEY

During her student years she hosted several successful music programmes on the radio and currently works for TG4, the Irish language channel, on music programmes of course. Apart from Donegal, the fiddle is also very popular in Co. Clare and Therese has an extremely smooth fiddling technique and an almost airy touch.

Down the Strand is her first album and the talent she discovered in her youth is very much in evidence here. The carefully chosen repertoire highlights some of the most beautiful tunes. From the first track Crib of Perches, the sound of the fiddle is delicately supported by Brian Donnellan's bouzouki.

Twelve tracks, traditional or composed by Therese such as Tune for Tom or Therese's Tune, follow one another over 45 minutes. We recognise standards such as Julie Delany's, which she has renamed Down the Strand. Or Flatbush, a waltz by Andy Statman popularised in the 80s by Dé Dannan, here accompanied by the piano.

Many of the reels, jigs and hornpipes will sound familiar but they are played with a mixture of spontaneity and maturity. Among these instrumentals, there are three songs performed by Therese. Fair and Tender Ladies, an American ballad already sung by Pauline Scanlon and Éilís Kennedy. Casadh an tSúgáin from the repertoire of Iarla Ó Lionáird. And then Bothy Band's standard, Do you love an Apple. A delicate and sensitive album.

Autoproduit TMI001 - www.theresemcinerney.com