PRESS :: Reviews :: Interviews
FOLK RADIO UK
I'm sure many listeners will recall Niamh Ní Charra's last album "Ón Dá Thaobh / From Both Sides" which made it into Mojo's Top Ten Folk Albums of 2007. Her latest release, "Súgach Sámh / Happy Out", takes a great leap forward in confidence, maturity and in exposing the full breadth of her musical talent.
Súgach Sámh / Happy Out places Niamh in new territory that was left unexplored on her last album. The increased confidence in her playing is evident throughout the album but what surprised and pleased me most about this album was her singing. I fully expected a second instrumental album but the third track dispelled this and brought a smile to my face as she treats the listener to a beautiful rendition of Paddy's lamentation. The song is set during the tragic and turbulent years of the Irish Famine and the subsequent exodus to America. She pushes every ounce of emotion into the song which combined with her mournful accompaniment on Concertina make this a deeply moving song. Her voice carries the same depth of emotion as her fiddle playing on Lonesome Eyes, a beautiful air written by Jerry Holland for his son Jerry Jnr; on his leaving home and whom lost his long fought battle with cancer last year.
There are also songs and tunes at the other end of spectrum. Cailleach An Airgid is a powerhouse of a song from the Galway tradition where Niamh's father grew up which tells the tale of a young man courting an older woman who has a lot of money! The chorus of this gaelic song is the chant his friends tease him with as he passes by. The song is powered along by a wonderful driving guitar (Donogh Hennessy) and bodhran (Robbie Harris) which jumps to life with Niamh's fiddle playing. Her singing is wonderful on this track and it's definitely a Folk radio UK favourite!
There is range of textures and sounds within this album which bear the influences of the music of her up-bringing to other traditons and influences learned during her extensive travels including those from both Galician and Cape Breton traditions. Her family also take part in adding the magic to this album. On Sé Fáth Mo Bhuarta Niamh's father, Eoin Ó Carra plays Zither which adds a timeless feel to the song. in 1977 Niamh's uncle Padraig released an album on the prominent Gael Linn label, on which he played airs on zither. The zither is an unusual instrument to hear in irish music and this is just one track on this album which has her family heritage proudly stamped on it.
Súgach Sámh / Happy out is a refreshing sounding album that is steeped in tradition. The album will appeal to a broad spectrum of folk music lovers as Niamhâs interpretation of traditional music is both progressive and rich in variety. It certainly sets a high standard for Irish traditional music and she also demonstrates the importance of passing on such rich tradition to new generations. This beautiful album is a living testament to that.
It gets a ten out of ten from us!
Alex Gallacher, 25/12/2010
