Blackbirds And Thrushes

I have been a fan of Niamh Parson's singing since I first saw her perform in the mid '80s, both solo and with her then outfit Killera. She is posessed of an astonishing vocal range and an uncanny ability to pick the right material. This, after a two group outings with Loose Connections is her first solo album, and for it she has returned to a purely traditional repertoire.

With the exception of the opening and closing tracks, there are never more than five instruments on any song, and this sparse approach works beautifully, allowing the focus to fall, as it should on her voice. It's heard in all its glory on 'The Banks Of The Nile' to devastating effect, and on 'The Wounded Huzzar', where the only accompaniment is the mournful accordion of Josephine Marsh.

With this album, Niamh Parsons has created one of this year's defining moments in traditional singing. If a better album in the genre is released, it will have to be very, very good indeed.