Niall Connolly is one of Ireland’s most prolific singer-songwriters – this is his eighth studio album in 16 years – but he is also one of the country’s most overlooked.

Beavering away, then, is an understatement, but Connolly’s work ethic remains unbowed. Now based in Brooklyn, the Cork musician hasn’t lost sight of his original intention to make sense of a heap of crazy, and this time around he tackles (with some songwriting panache) political issues, notably his personal experience as an immigrant and the way in which such status has potential to disrupt and disentangle.

Aided by a superb band of NYC musicians, Connolly exorcises a couple of ghosts with songs as potent as the title track, Artificial Lake, and No Cause for Alarm. Punchy pop/rock with a beating heart. niallconnolly.com