Round & Round

County Antrim-based Ciaran O'Kane's debut album is a fine and muscular release. Opening with the traditional track ‘The Banks of the Lee’ O'Kane presents us with a brooding introduction, but it would be wrong to expect a Gaelic gloom to dominate this rather splendid album. Indeed there are jazz, pop, country and blues flavours dotted throughout.

‘Belfast Lass’ is a playful, sparky piece of caution and romance while ‘I Won't Give Up’ has a strong, defiant 70s singer-songwriter vibe. ‘The Moorcock's Crow’ highlights O'Kane's rich and powerful voice, while ‘Willie Taylor’ is a sparkling and playful piece of folk whimsy. ‘Lord Franklin’ is a beautiful rendition of this most haunting and atmospheric traditional track with some effective vocals from O'Kane's mother Helen.

But it's in O'Kane's own songwriting that the true strength of this album lies. ‘Spark’ is a beautifully evocative narrative on a failed relationship. Title-track ‘Round & Round’ features twice on the album. First with a full accompaniment, but more powerfully, as a solo bodhrán-accompanied closer. O'Kane is a talented singer and multi-instrumentalist, and Round & Round is an impressive debut. One to watch.