Review of "Close To Home"
Publication :: Folking

If there is such a thing as a guilty pleasure, then mine would be to listen to a traditional melody performed with precision and with a bit of life on the steel strung guitar. Years ago when I was first being introduced to Celtic music I encountered the flailing digits of Dick Gaughan in Five Hand Reel. OK it made me want to go out and immediately buy his album “Coppers & Brass” but I was somehow left thinking a little cheated - as if there was something missing – looking back on it Gaughan was drinking heavily at the time and this probably marred his performance. Perhaps it was the frantic style in which he seemed to hack at the instrument leaving the tunes soulless and more a case of painting by numbers. Another (nearly) forgotten hero who had mastered the art of plectrum picking was Frank Simon of Bully Wee - check out the album The Enchanted Lady.

But it wasn’t until, by chance, I came across the more subtle nuances of Arty McGlynn that I felt I had reached my own personal nirvana. Now, my interest has been re-kindled with this debut album from Donal Clancy. It has the energy and passion of a man who has seriously got to grips with the intricacies and beauty of these centuries’ old melodies and although I’m sure that he’s well capable of it, there isn’t a self-composed tune to impede the flow. You can tell he has an understanding and empathy that runs deep to the core of the Celt and with tunes such as O’Carolan’s “Lord Inchiquin”, “Sonny Brogan’s” and the reel/hornpipe “Farewell to Connaught” he has learnt the art of balancing that fine line between simplicity and excess. Every note counts and when you become as critical as I have over the years it’s nice to come across an album this refreshing.

If you are a guitarist who is looking to extend your repertoire whilst indulging in some seriously good playing then this recording couldn’t come more highly recommended.