Bushes & Briars
For her foray into traditional music, American-based Irish singer Susan McKeown hasn't chosen the safe path. By including instruments like tabla, French horn, and clarinet--none of which are associated with Celtic music--she's stretching the boundaries of the genre. But the fascinating, often daring arrangements serve merely to frame her voice, which is often shown starkly, even unaccompanied. With guests like Morocco'sHassan Hakmoun, formerPlanxtymanAndy Irvine, andSolas'sSeamus Egan, she has a first-class crew behind her, but she, and her haunting voice, remain the real stars of the show, offering a radiant path to the heart of the songs here. Her selection of material (both in English and Gaelic) veers far from the tried and true, but even on a song like "Bonny Boy," she marks it with her own identity.Bushes and Briarsis a complete triumph, establishing McKeown as one of the top contemporary Celtic singers.--Chris Nickson