Irish Heart - Jewish Soul

Full marks for originality go to this certifiably unique combination of Irish and Jewish songs. A Dublin native who studied under Veronica Dunne, Nelkin has chosen his material from the stagy rather than the folky side of both traditions, and it’s a good match: sentimental classics of Yiddish vaudeville like ‘Vos Geven iz Geven Un Nito’ aren’t a million miles away from such parlour chestnuts as ‘Love Thee, Dearest’ and ‘Little Bridget Flynn’. I can’t help thinking that much of the album would have sounded a lot better pitched a key or two lower, and the synth backing is far too heavy throughout; those quibbles aside, this is a fine and fascinating debut.