Behave the Bravest

Can Nuala Kennedy really be celebrating ten years as a solo artist? It is hard to believe, but Behave the Bravest, her fourth solo album, certainly demonstrates the confidence of an artist at the peak of her talent. Well-known as one of the finest flautists on the Irish/Scots trad scene, as a vocalist Kennedy has developed into an inspired and sensitive interpreter of traditional song, as can be heard on her sweetly arresting ‘His Bonnet So Blue’ and ‘Fair Annie of the Loch Royanne’. The latter is perhaps the most heartbreaking track on this album – tenderly sung by Kennedy with a raw freshness. ‘Death and the Lady’ sees Kennedy in unexpectedly playful mood, with a light and spirited interpretation of the Shirley Collins’ classic. There are also some rather striking tunes here, including a very bouncy ‘Glen Where the Deer Is’ and a pacey ‘The Broken Lantern’.

Recorded live in a variety of studios across the world (Sydney, Los Angeles and Edinburgh) over six months, Behave the Bravest is a very fine album – a rich selection of tunes and songs and beautifully produced. A truly effortless, yet striking performance.