Musical Journey

A long, meandering road, wending its way round gullies, crevices and drumlins: that's the kind of musical journey Cormac Breatnach has embarked on in this, his debut CD. Pensive and considered, it's a collection of gentle, low key tunes - with a surprising song or two in their midst.

Breatnach has always been a cerebral musician, inhabiting every corner of his tunes and fingering their deepest secrets with the dexterity of a three card trickster, but Musical Journey is an excursion of both the head and the heart. The mood-shifts are almost imperceptible as Breatnach ambles from slow air to braggadocio and on to jig with the quiet confidence of one who's more interested in the road than the map.

'The Tailor's Small Jig' hops, skips and jumps around John McSherry's equally light-footed acoustic guitar strings. 'Sporting Paddy' is a funky slow reel that is a welcome reminder of the inspired partnership that has long-flourished between Breatnach and Niall Callanáin (on bouzouki), and its companion 'Adele' follows seamlessly on, a slow air beautifully cushioned by cello, viola and harp - a heartfelt ode to his soulmate in life.

Musical Journey is peppered with all manner of discriminating influences and ingredients. Máire Breatnach, his longtime collaborator, offers judicious portions of strings and didles; the redoubtable Steve Cooney is present with driving guitar fully-stringed, and Garvan Gallagher lopes alongside with shruti box and bass, a fine travelling companion.

But the biggest surprise comes courtesy of Breatnach's vocal contributions. Swing-shifting from the lazy Castillian ballad of 'La Molinera' to the bleak desolation of 'Maidin Luan Chincáse', his singing is a revelation of talent too long hidden. Although he apologises for the rough-hewn shape of his vocals, it's precisely these which add the third dimension to the CD.

All told, it's wonderful stuff.