Traditional Songs from County LouthRossendale Records ****

When it comes to understanding the human stories that define our history, Frank Harte always championed the singer as the real source, and this trio cast their collective net wide in trawling the immense riches of their shared song heritage. The mix of charismatic voices and intriguing choices pulls into sharp focus the canny and wily songwriting of 18th-century balladeer John Shiel, as well as the rich bequests from 20th- century locals Mary Carolan and Pat Usher. A number of Child ballads also jostle for attention in this tapestry of picaresque tales. Benefiting greatly from the interweaving of three voices (Voice Squad member Gerry Cullen, song collector and Cran’s singer Seán Corcoran, and Drogheda emigré Dónal Maguire), this is a collection that reveals its glistening gems one by one, with an ear ever cocked towards the subtler side of a song, exemplified by the opener, a notably different reading of that ragged ballad The Wild Rover.