Ships In The Forest

Now I’m usually quite a fan of sparse arrangements, but there’s something a little empty and sterile about the lone vocal and stripped down accompaniments (sometimes piano, sometimes guitar, sometimes organ, sometimes harmonium, sometimes uileann pipes) on many of the tracks, on this collection of traditional classics from the former Solas singer Karan Casey. It all feels a bit high concept, like Casey wanted to do a stark yet ethereal record about very earthy subject matter. But the upshot is that much of the blood and guts of these murder ballads and rebel songs went missing in the chilly translation. Now, the songs are still great, and her vocals are flawless. So there’s much to admire here. But it’s a strangely empty experience.

Key Track: ‘Johnny I hardly knew ye’