Amy

Truth to tell I've never heard of Stephen Ferra before but he appears to be a UK-based singer/songwriter/guitarist of some note.

This enjoyable if low key debut, apparently inspired by the aviator Amy Johnson includes a brace of his own instrumental compositions and songs along with a smattering of covers, some obscure and others more familiar. The best known of the non-originals here is probably Mark Knopfler's sultry ballad 'Why Worry' with others including Ralph McTell's 'Blind Joplin Rag' and Dougie McLean's 'This Love Will Carry On'.

Equally familiar songs to Irish ears include 'Rose Of Allendale' and a couple of O'Carolan tunes: 'Blind Mary' and 'Sheebag Sheemor'.

The style is very much in the English folk idiom reminiscent of artists like John Renbourne and Bert Jansch and the album is entirely acoustic in approach. Ferra's guitar playing is subtle and effective though his singing voice is the weak point here, lacking the kind of depth that some of these songs require.