ROOTS

The latest releases reviewed.

ELIADES OCHOA La Coleccion Cubana Nascente ****

This is a limited "best of", but a very good one at that. Guitarist and singer Ochoa has been in the engine room of numerous Cuban music projects, not least the Buena Vista Social Club, where, as the sleeve notes tell us, he was actually more prominent than is generally known. These 17 tracks are culled from three solo albums. Anybody seduced by the irresistible rhythms of Cuban music will find much to savour here, while Ochoa's guitar playing is never less than a sheer pleasure, his nimble breaks and fills the essence of taste and timing. Now touching 60, Ochoa - for so long the "young one" to the late Buena Vista giants such as Ibrahim Ferrer and Compay Segundo - has become the standard bearer for the kind of music they played. And we can be sure it is in good hands. www.nascente.co.uk

Joe Breen

ELIZA GILYKSON Paradise Hotel Red House Records ****

Dubya may not be the most popular cowboy around, but you have to hand it to him for inspiring some of the best protest songs for many a decade. American songwriter Eliza Gilykson, on her last excellent album (2004's Land of Milk & Honey) landed a great punch with Hiway 9, and now follows that with a straight muscular left, Man of God. It is one of 10 tracks on another fine record of contemporary folk and folk-rock by a singer blessed with a voice of soulful intensity and the ability to write songs that matter - and sound really good to boot. The title track is one of the less impressive moments, but Jedidiah, Think About You, Calm Before the Storm, When You Walk On, Borderline and the poignant Spanish ballad Bellarosa all hit the right spots. As no doubt Gilykson will too when she plays Whelan's in Dublin on May 8th. www.elizagilykson.com

Joe Breen

CHRISTY MOORE Live at The Point 2006 Columbia ****

He's been in the eye of the hurricane for a few years now, his second wind fuelling his repertoire to accommodate everyone from Dylan to Morrissey. Christy's latest live recording is a canny snapshot of a musician whose stage persona is as spit-polished as Bruce Springsteen's: every single note buffed until it glistens. Declan Sinnott's electrifying guitar accompaniment adds welcome muscle to such chestnuts as Sacco & Vanzetti and Viva La Quinte Brigada, but the most startling find is the timelieness of his desperation-laden tales of emigration. City of Chicago echoes chillingly, a dig in our own ribs at the blind-sight with which we treat immigrants while we still doff our caps to our own past ignominies. Social commentary with a welcome sting. (Live DVD also on release.) www.christymoore.com

Siobhán Long