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MUIREANN NIC AMHLAOIBH Daybreak: Fáinee An Lae Compass Records ****

It's a voice hewn of bog oak yet, critically, as contemporary as the vocal twists of Damien Dempsey or the verbal slingshots of Martin McDonagh. As lead vocalist and flute player with Danú, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh brought a west Kerry repertoire and an ear for a good lyric to an ensemble already well versed in the intricacies of a good session. Daybreak: Fáinne An Lae, Nic Amhlaoibh's solo debut, is shot through with an unforced fluency and, surprisingly, a remarkable gravitas. From her pensive reading of the lullaby Seoithín Seothó to the oceanic sweep of her voice on Slán Le Máigh, Nic Amhlaoibh's debut is a languid treasure. Even her cover of Richard Thompson and Tim Finn's Persuasion underscores an unerring sense of the right song in the right place. www.compassrecords.com

Siobhán Long