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Both his native Donegal and American country music course through Kevin Doherty’s memorable caustic lines, built on melodies of elegant intensity

Strictly speaking this is not a solo album but a collaboration between a number of leading Irish musicians, including guitarist Conor Brady and pianist James Delaney, who fly under the flag of Telegraph. But Doherty writes all the songs, sings and produces and, in the way of many independent artists, he also markets it because there is no major company behind the project. So though Telegraphis not his third solo album, it might as well be. The previous two, his debut Strange Weatherand the more impressive Sweet Water, showed Doherty to be a hugely promising talent. Telegraphmoves him to a different level – songs such as Tugboatmark him out as a singular figure of some substance.