SPERANZA: “About Time” (Starc Records)

THIS IS good-time music of the highest order. Speranza were always going to have a difficult time transferring their acclaimed live shows to record, but About Time is testament to their ability to go with their instincts and make an album the way they wanted to.

The stylistic range is impressive and occasionally breathtaking; from the salsa rhythms of ‘Bringing It All Back Up’ to the smoky jazz of ‘The Poisoned Pen Stings’ and the frenetic instrumental chaos of ‘Woodside’, Speranza confound with their versatility. ‘Something You Should Know’ is a gorgeous country tune in the style of Ian and Sylvia Tysons’s ‘Four Strong Winds’ (as recorded by Neil Young) while the sensitive balladry of ‘Ice Cool’ features the brilliant Robbie Overson on Spanish guitar.

‘Waltzing To Mongolia’ has a mysterious Eastern European feel and ‘Performance’ is a deft piece of country hokum with tight vocal harmonies. Their sense of humour when it comes to song titles is not found wanting either as evident on ‘The Old Grey Goose Test’ a traditional tune in the Altan vein and, ‘Strawberry Jam Forever’ another instrumental with a decidedly French flavour. The final track, ‘Home’ is a heartfelt atmospheric ballad with a soaring melody and a lyrical message that rings true.

With instrumental assistance from the likes of Gerry O’Connor on banjo, Pat Collins on fiddle, Paul Moore on double bass and the voice of Natalie Murphy on backing vocals, About Time was certainly worth the wait.

• Colm O’Hare