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WELL KNOWN in Irish music circles as a session musician, Ennis born/Nashville resident O'Beirne has lent his distinctive 6 and 12-string acoustic guitar talents to artists as varied as Sharon Shannon, The Waterboys and Marianne Faithful. He's also achieved considerable success as a songwriter - his songs have been recorded by Maura O'Connell ('Western Highway') and Mary Black ('The Holy Ground'), amongst others. But O'Beirne has also consistently performed in his own right, particularly in America where he's a regular stalwart on the folk festival circuit.

Half Moon Bay, his solo debut, contains seven vocal tracks, including his own versions of the aforementioned songs and five instrumentals all showcasing his undoubted technical mastery of his instrument. On both songs and tunes, the arrangements are sparse and uncluttered with just the occasional bass or keyboard passage embellishing the chiming guitars.

On the vocal tracks, comparisons with Sonny Condell are hard to avoid, particularly on 'Long Beating Wing' and 'Darkness Now', both of which blend country and folk with eastern atmospherics, the latter showcasing some tasty bottleneck and fretboard harmonics.

'The Shades of Gloria' strongly recalls Simon ... Garfunkel's 'America', both in its vivid imagery and sixties folk harmonies, while the title track (also recorded by Maura O'Connell) is possibly the strongest song here melodically and structurally, with Rod McVey's keyboards providing a suitably ethereal backdrop.

The only non-original on the album is 'Caperucita' a Mexican waltz ,while the closing cut, 'When You're Gone I Say Your Name', a Tex-Mex inspired instrumental with O'Beirne playing both Spanish and National Steel guitar, recalls Ry Cooder's atmospheric soundtrack to Paris Texas.

Not a classic by any means, the predominantly melancholy mood makes this a low-key, understated but undeniably charming record.