Iníon

This album of nine beautifully arranged sean nós songs from the Dublin-based singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Inni-K (Eithne Ní Chatháin) scores highly for its lyricism, understatement and luminosity. The accompanying instrumental palette, adroitly varied throughout, is applied sparingly in an almost painterly fashion, with Inni-K herself contributing fiddle, piano and synth, along with Matthew Berrill (clarinets, piano), Brian Walsh (drums, percussion, piano) and Mary Barnecutt (cello).

‘An Tiarna Randal’, sung to a variant of the celebrated air ‘The Star of the County Down’, provides the indescribably poignant opener. The epic ‘Lord Gregory’, in a striking arrangement, which sees the introduction of a subtle pulse in percussion at the midway point, is a bona fide standout. In addition to the dandling song ‘Cuc-a-neaindí’ and the allegorical (and all-too-brief) ‘An Raibh Tú ar an gCarraig’, which casts its alluring spell in an entirely unaccompanied setting, ‘Éamonn an Chnoic’ finds the singer at her most touchingly expressive. Further treats include the repelling of an unwanted suitor in ‘Casadh an tSúgáin’, the mellifluous aisling ‘Úirchill an Chreagáin’, the wistful longing of ‘The Mountain Streams Where the Moorcocks Crow’ and a second lullaby, ‘Hó-bha-ín’, which brings Inni-K’s heartfelt collection to a tender close.