Nicole Maguire - What You Really Mean

Performing in her native Cork since age 15, Maguire has been feted by Damien Dempsey and Nanci Griffith and recently opened for E Streeter Jake Clemons on his Irish jaunt. Recorded in Nashville with a roster of heavyweights, including producer Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Richard Thompson), Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas and legendary bassist Bob Glaub, Maguire’s debut comes with a strong stamp of approval.

Her natural singing style and low-key approach is a blend of Irish/English folk and acoustic Americana. The songs and arrangements are, in the main, understated and introspective, yet graceful, with delicate textures and subtle melodies. The gentle, finger-picked acoustic guitar and her wistful tones on ‘Casey’ have Joni Mitchell flavour while the vaguely country-ish ‘Fall Apart’ would make a worthy Alison Krauss tune. The pastoral ‘Hard Love’ recalls the folk-rock of Sandy Denny and Linda Thompson.

Elsewhere, the soft rock shuffle on ‘I Don’t’ evokes ‘70s West Coast singers such as Karla Bonoff and Judee Sill while the rhythmic ‘Out Of Our Hands’ veers more towards the latter day nu-folk movement.

Impeccably played, with immaculate production and Maguire’s effortless voice shining through, this is lovely stuff which improves with repeated listening.