Joe O’Donnell, Goadhals Vision’ (Polydor)

Some years after his flirtation with Celtic Rock with East of Eden, Joe O’Donnell goes one up on the genre by looking as far back as the Milesians for his inspiration. Using a range of electric violins, as well as excellently arranged strings, on top of a lead-bass-drums-keyboards rock rhythm section, this magnum opus emerges as a sensitive synthesis of emotive orchestration and rockfire. Ultimately, it’s music that crosses boundaries and defies categorisation – though it’s melodic roots are firmly implanted in the Gaelic tradition. An amazing and thoroughly Irish musical experience.