Album Review: Michael D. Higgins, Against All Certainty

Against All Certainty is the debut collection of 10 spoken poems by our President, with engaging and thoughtful musical additions by Myles O’Reilly. The chatty informality of Michael D’s introductions creates a sitting-by-the-fire intimacy, which successfully narrows the gap between poet and listener.

Having carved his determined political path by resolutely following his own instincts, it’s no surprise that his poetry is equally defiant. That his work prompts vituperative responses from certain quarters is most encouraging and puts him in noble company. He sets his stall out in the opening item ‘The Truth Of Poetry’, and in his rich and mellifluous Munster accent, he explores aspects of memory.

‘Brothers’ also mines early memories and the emotional impact of key events, and he again reaches back to the family for the excellent, reflective ‘My Mother Married My Father In Mount Melleray In 1937’.

A chiming church bell and soft brass takes us straight into the title piece, stirring in this listener a challenge to the alleged certainty of religious (and political?) zealotry.

The collection closes with ‘Stargazer’, a tantalising celebration of knowledge and imagination set against O’Reilly’s ethereal space music.

There’s an admirably modest courage in Michael D’s willingness to risk the ire of those who want him to write their way. In that sense, he’s in wonderful company, alongside Joyce, Beckett, Edna O’Brien, Dylan, Cohen, Patti Smith et al – none of whom, thankfully, ever knew their place.

8/10