In the media yoke this week I’ve got “The Old Wood Road,” the solo debut by singer Evelyn O’Connell. Named for her County Kerry home townland of Knockavinna, locally known as “The Old Wood Road,” the album is an appealing collection of finely selected and thoughtfully performed songs that fans of traditional singing will love. Pop it in, give it a listen and I’m sure you’ll be as interested in her work as I am.
O’Connell comes from Brosna, in the Sliabh Luachra region of Kerry. She grew up in a musical family (her brother Martin was the 2012 senior All-Ireland button accordion champion) and has been a passionate singer since childhood and has a strong grounding in her local tradition. Over the years, she’s not only performed widely on radio and television, but she’s appeared at venues such as Bunratty Castle, Dublin’s Academy and Siamsa Tíre. In addition, she’s an in-demand teacher who has also toured internationally in Europe, Asia and Australia with a variety of performing groups, including Deluce’s Patent the string-based ensemble she became a part of in 2010.
The album includes some fabulous musicians. Joining her for the lion’s share here is a lovely core group that includes Conor O’Sullivan (guitar, shaker, bass), Deirdre Granville (harp), and Christy Leahy (button accordion; several tracks).
A highly accomplished musician, O’Sullivan (https://www.conorosullivanmusic.com/) was a member of Deluce’s Patent and among his many, many activities over the years include touring as a member of the show Celtic Crossroads (with Isaac Alderson and Lisa Canny) and performing with Barry Tierney in the duo Leif. Granville (http://deirdregranville.com/) comes from from Dingle and was also a member of Deluce’s Patent. She has a remarkable record of award-winning work, including the first ever All-Ireland Senior Harp Slow Airs title in 2011. Leahy hails from Cork and was a founding member of the group North Cregg. He made a widely-acclaimed album with Caoimhín Vallely in 2010 and has been gigging of late with fiddle player Athena Tergis.
The album also features single track appearances by O’Connell’s brother Martin (button accordion) and sister-in-law Marie Louise Bowe O’Connell (viola and violin). These O’Connells are both superb musicians and despite their limited appearances, make musical contributions of real substance.
Evelyn O’Connell sings with a voice that is clear, focused, and resonant, to which she brings a light shimmery vibrato. There’s a maturity in her singing that provides an emotional depth I find pleasingly old-fashioned. The songs themselves reflect the traditional/sean-nós tradition, with many drawn from the Sliabh Luachra region.
Each of the album’s tracks is arranged in a way that beautifully complements the qualities of O’Connell’s singing voice, giving the record a grounded and cohesive sense of style. There are plenty of charming tracks worth mentioning. “Slán agus Beannacht le Buireamh an Tsaoil,” a macaronic song from Sliabh Luachra that opens the album, makes for an excellent introduction to O’Connell’s singing. It’s first-rate work, with the bright arrangement of guitar, harp and accordion providing just the right space and atmosphere for her voice to find its center. The closing track, “Home by Bearna,” another song from Sliabh Luachra, shares that same buoyant energy and finely crafted touch. O’Connell’s voice shines once again, framed by the tasteful restraint of the ensemble—and her turn on the banjo here adds a lovely, unexpected twist.
But the album holds some interesting contrasts. “An Buachaillín Donn,” which O’Connell delivers completely unaccompanied, is different from the ones mentioned above and of all the album’s tracks, this one may perhaps best showcase her voice – it’s not only a scintillating performance, but it’s placement in the album’s sequencing give it a bit of a showcase. Just lovely.
Another contrasting track that really stands out to me is “The May Morning Dew,” a serious song O’Connell took from the singing of Sean Keane. O’Connell’s tone here is dark and atmospheric, befitting the song’s lyrics, but it’s the musical accompaniment Bowe provides that walks a careful line between traditional and modern and brings added depth to O’Connell’s gorgeous vocal lines.
Evelyn O’Connell’s “The Old Wood Road” is an album of top shelf traditional singing that brings local experience and tradition to a wider audience. O’Connell sings with an exquisite, inviting voice that is enhanced only by the musicians she’s invited in to support her. If you’re a fan of traditional singing, this is an album you’ll appreciate knowing about and appreciate hearing even more. An outstanding debut effort from a singer with strong background experience. Definitely one for the collection! To learn more and purchase, visit here.
