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Nuala Kennedy- The New
Shoes (Compass)
‘In
these new shoes, worn exceedingly proudly, Nuala and her crew can't seem
to put a foot wrong…’
- David Kidman NetRhythms October 2007
Co. Louth (Dundalk)-born, now Scotland-based flute/whistle player and singer Nuala has had an illustrious career so far, touring and recording with the bands Fine Friday and Harem Scarem and recently receiving acclaim for her Celtic Connections commission Astar: Journey. Her musical sensibilities, however, extend wider than a strictly Irish or Scottish ambit, outward to Cape Breton also, and her first solo album, The New Shoes, has a truly pan-Celtic sweep. Though solo in name, the record actually features Nuala in a band context: this particular ensemble was originally brought together for a Gaelic TV show, but it developed into a full album project along the way. Here Nuala is joined by Marc Clement (guitar, vocal), Julian Sutton (melodeon), Claire Mann (fiddle, whistle, flute, vocal) and Mhairi Hall (piano) - and what a fine sound they make together.
The New Shoes presents 11 tracks of traditional material creatively combined into sets with a few songs thrown in too, and interest and variety is well maintained by the contrasts of mood and texture generated. The songs in particular have a quality of effortless ease in their expression, and the many imaginative tonal touches brought in include a trumpet part (Daniel Lapp) to counterpoint the melodeon line on Erin On The Rhine (on which Cathal O'Connell guest-vocalises too). The tune sets are all executed with aplomb, musicality and an easy expressive fluidity, and the arrangements show a high degree of skill and aptitude. The tunes themselves may spring no particular surprises, but all is stylishly controlled and finely contoured within the parameters as defined and you could say that in these new shoes, worn exceedingly proudly, Nuala and her crew can't seem to put a foot wrong.
David Kidman October 2007