Joe O'Donnell's Shkayla
Album: Into The Becoming
Label: Silvery
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.joe-odonnell.com

Whilst I was a big fan of Joe O'Donnell in fiddle driven folk/progrockers East Of Eden, I will admit I sort of lost track of him after that particular combo split. Fortunately, I rediscovered him with Shkayla, Shkayla being the Irish word for stories, when they played the Great British Folk Festival, back in 2011. I was pleased to discover he still hadn't discovered the meaning of the word compromise.

"Into The Becoming" is the first new album since then and once again I am pleased to say, it still shows no signs of compromise. Named after a Hopi Indian phrase for facing the future, "Into The Becoming" draws inspiration from right around the Celtic rim, sometimes drawing on the rhythms, sometimes on the harmonies, but always with the fiddle at its heart.

"Into The Becoming" is definitely a Joe O'Donnell album and yes that does mean that at times it does follow a slightly idiosyncratic path that may seem a little disjointed, but that's not always a bad things, there are times where the change from one song/set of tunes to another jars a little, but it does at least make sure you're paying attention, not that you'ld be able not to.

Joe has surrounded himself with a group of top musicians who have a real empathy for where Joe is taking things, when he wants them to follow and when he wants them to lead and shine. That in itself adds a real dynamic.

This is not the easiest album that you'll ever listen to, but then it's easy to get bored when something comes to you too easily. "Into The Becoming" is an album that challenges, it's also one that has lots to offer, which makes it well worth seeking out.

Neil King