It has been said that, the more opulent and distinctive the surroundings, the more memorable the gig. Correspondingly, the various performances from Other Voices: Songs From A Room are among the most delightful and remarkable committed to RTE’s archives.
Once upon a time, the show was a neat platform for Irish acoustic artists. Recently, a number of delightful blow-ins and electronic, acoustic-abhorring mavericks have strengthened the show’s calibre of artists to impressive effect. I mean, did you ever think you’d see Republic Of Loose rock a Dingle church to its foundations?
While the album tends to meander with an almost meditative calm, as would befit its largely acoustic feel, it is not without its animated moments. The Chalets’ ‘Go Go, Don’t Go’ has rarely sounded more urgent or charged, while Joe Chester’s ‘A Drop Of Rain’, with its simple Casio heartbeat, is a ticklish song of wonderful jollity and charm.
Meanwhile, Emiliana Torrini’s honeyed vocals, Angela McCluskey’s intriguing performance of ‘It’s Been Done’ and Tom Baxter’s beguiling, heart-on-sleeve rendition of ‘Day In Verona’ means that there’s also much to love in the album’s more orthodox acoustic moments.
Granted, picking 17 tracks from 100 gigs is no mean feat, yet Other Voices 3 boasts a fantastically hearty stew of accomplished elder statesmen and chomping-at-the-bit newcomers. Off the shore of Dingle, the next stop is the bright lights of New York; for these artists, there’s little doubting that their futures are as megawatt as Manhattan.