Iontach - A New Challenge album review: thoughtful transnational trad

Transnational partnerships are a challenge. Iontach is an Irish/German/English trio anchored by the flute and guitar of Siobhán Kennedy and Jens Kommnick, with the recent addition of Nick Wiseman-Ellis on accordion, fiddle and vocals.

Iontach forage for unlikely combinations, and their marriage of Kommnick's Along Silver Pines with Karen Tweed's Only Viveka is a masterclass in minimalist reverie. Their delicate arrangement of John Sheahan's St Patrick's Cathedral is another highlight. Kennedy's step dancing and her work on concertina, fiddle and whistle add further to the rich mix.

Vocally, she inhabits a space not far removed from Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh: intuitive, effortless phrasing complementing a deeply textured tone. Their song choices occasionally flounder amid pedestrian lyrics, but the musicianship is ever thoughtful.

[ iontach.de ]