Somewhere Along the Road

Best known for her work in the 1970s and ’80s as lead singer with the group Oisín, Germany-based Ballyfermot native Geraldine MacGowan also has three previous solo albums to her credit. This time round, she’s joined by whistle player Brian O’Connor – who wrote a number of fine original tunes that are on the CD – together with Shane McGowan (no relation) on guitar and bass and Éamonn De Barra on piano, harmonium and bodhrán. Mixing lesser-known traditional songs like ‘Go From My Window’ and ‘The High Walls Of Derry’ with an interesting selection of covers, including songs by Richard Thompson, Kieran Halpin and Bruce Cockburn, she’s a strong singer with a deft sense of how much emotion is the right amount to give a song feeling without overdoing it.