Daybreak: Fainne an Lae
Nic Amhlaoibh first came to many people’s attention when she joined Danu, one of the finest Irish traditional bands to emerge over the past decade (two of her band-mates sit in on this album.) Her flawless alto, with its wide range and elegant phrasing, made a strong impression then and judging by the present release, her contradictory yet seamless blend of the earthy and angelic, the sacred and profane, has continued to deepen, mature and evolve. Whether essaying Gaelic-language tunes from the Celtic canon or the type of crowd-pleasing folk-pop typical of the versatile Black sisters, she exudes the sure-footed, relaxed command of a singer approaching her prime, an engaging mixture of charisma and sensitivity. Ranging from Richard Thompson’s loss-haunted "Persuasion" to the heartbreaking "Immigrant’s Farewell" to "Free And Easy," a road tune about blithe irresponsibility, her interpretations hit the mark every time without drawing too much attention to themselves. When such a degree of taste and generosity are combined with a glorious vocal instrument, it’s a pleasure to just fall back and let the lady do what she does so well. --Christina Roden