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“…immense talent and experience... rich, deep texture- outstanding and highly recommended
Alex Monaghan, Irish Music Magazine May 2007

NUALA KENNEDY - The New Shoes 
Compass Records 4452 12 tracks, 53 minutes 

Out of Dundalk via Edinburgh, Nuala has already graced recordings by Fine Friday, Harem Scarem (a "folk-pop band") and others. Her solo debut shows immense talent and experience, with flute and vocal pieces from across the Irish and Scottish repertoires. I say solo, but The New Shoes has more of a band feel. The opening Pink Flamingo set could be early Lunasa - the same rich, deep texture based on flutes and whistles, the same swirling reels - take away the box and keyboards, and this would fit a McGoldrick or McSherry album.

Nuala's own compositions Dolphin School, Slippy and the title track continue the modern jazztrad mood. Four songs in Irish and English add a very different aspect to Nuala's music: surprisingly straight arrangements of The Groves of Donaghmore and A Bhean Ud Thios. The Highlands and Islands set is also more pure drop than folk-pop. The wee bonus track is quaint and amusing - I'll say no more. 

Nuala's playing is outstanding throughout, and her friends do a fine job too: Claire Mann on flutes and fiddles, Julian Sutton on the box, and a great Edinburgh-style rhythm section (think Easy Club, Deaf Shepherd, Ceilidh Minogue). Compass Records distribution should make this CD easy to find, but www.compassrecords.com will oblige if necessary. Highly recommended. - Alex Monaghan