String on String

County Antrim harpist, fiddler and vocalist Amy McAllister's pleasingly bright and lyrical voice calls to mind the once ubiquitous Mary O'Hara in its relaxed, unfussy blending of harp and vocals and in the sheer clarity of her delivery. There are glancing hints, too of Kate Rusby in the husky vocal penumbra she puts to tremulous use in the lilting ‘Holy, Holy’ and mandolin-accompanied ‘Mi Amor’. ‘It’s Been a Year' is a dreamy, downbeat leave-taking soliloquy accented by Jos Kelly's piano. It's one of several self-penned songs here that solidly position McAllister as a writer of promise. She also gives us a harp solo of poetically plangent delicacy in the form of Catriona McKay's ‘The Swan LK243’ and arrangements of traditional pieces by McAllister and producer Camille Champarnaud, who also contributes a myriad of accompanying instruments including bouzouki, bodhrán, mandolin and backing vocals. Eoghan Scott provides glistening guitar backing to ‘O’Carolan's Concerto' in an adroit nod to the legendary Irish harpist. String on String proves to be a pleasant introduction to an accomplished musician with clearly much to offer and to look out for in the years ahead.