Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich

CD CHOICE:Fé Scáth/In the Shadow B0B2 ****

In recent years traditional Irish music has been awash with multi-instrumental arrangements, delivered by five- and six-member ensembles whose strengths have lain in cocking a collective ear to its rich melodic, harmonic and rhythmic possibilities. Amid the cacophony, the essential solitude at the music’s core has at times been sacrificed.

Of course there have been exceptions, such as fiddler Martin Hayes and piper David Power, the beating heart of their music often found lurking in the quiet corners where emotional expression is more subtly vented.

Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich is himself no stranger to raucous eruptions from behind and above his accordion. His work with The Boys of the Lough and Beginish, as well as his three previous solo albums, bear testament to his fiery west Kerry accordion style, soulful voice and love of keeping company with likeminded musicians.

Fé Scáth/In the Shadowmarks a significant departure for Ó Beaglaoich as burrows deep into the belly of the beast that defines him. What emerges is a collection of plaintive slow airs and songs that would still a stampeding herd. A concept album in the best sense, Fé Scáthpays rich tribute to Mount Brandon, under whose noble shadow Ó Beaglaoich was born, grew up and still lives.

Perhaps predictably, he tackles that exemplar of west Kerry tunes, Port Na bPúcaí, and lets it breathe deep inside the pleats of his accordion, accompanied in the sleeve notes by a glorious tale of the tune's debated origins. He ventures further as well, to mesmerising effect. Breanndán's voice is at one with his accordion as the two instruments curve and sweep across the epic death rattle of The Conneeley's, a boating tragedy tale that clearly resonates with a singer as much at ease on the water as on dry land.

Garry Ó Briain brings a lightness of touch to the production, and Ó Beaglaoich's voice shimmers in the low heat of his own song (with an air from Cathal McConnell), Caoineadh Sheáin Laoí, an intimate account of a local drowning that reeks of the impact it had on an entire community. A music evolution well worth the wait. See brendanbegley.com