Driven

This debut recording by young Tyrone-born fiddler Donall Donnelly and singer, guitarist, bouzouki and bodhrán player Brian Hanlon (who also designed the nifty CD jacket) was recorded in Sligo, Cork and Boston, with a similarly international lineup of guest musicians. Although Hanlon has a pleasant light voice and Donnelly’s knack for improvisation is manifest, instrumentally, the album isn’t much different from what you’d hear in a hundred sessions on either side of the Atlantic. The playing is more than competent and sets the toes tapping, but no barriers are broken or boundaries crossed. It’s early days yet, though; I’ll be interested to see how this pair develop as they mature.