Luka Bloom
Album: This New Morning
Label: Splid
Tracks: 13
Website: http://www.lukabloom.com

Luka (born Barry Moore and yes, he's Christy's brother) has tended to reside in the latter's shadow as regards appreciation of his own talent, this despite releasing a large number of rather fine albums over the space of well over two decades. Indeed, I've only fairly recently (by which I mean the last seven or eight years) latched on to his writing myself… I guess that part of the reason for his comparative lack of profile is that he falls between the stools of "pure folk" and "folk-pop" and "contemporary"; being so versatile can prove a double-edged sword.

Luka's very latest collection of self-penned material is a further persuasive demonstration of his integrity and honesty, his positive outlook expressed in an affectionately sanguine take on life. The predominantly gentle mood of the musical settings is a perfect foil for his appealing and flexible singing voice, which at times (and let's face it, quite naturally) sounds uncannily like a higher-register version of Christy's (not that that's a problem of course!). And what a fine team of accompanists Luka's gathered round him here - including as it does Donal Lunny, Steve Cooney, Dirk Powell, Conor Byrne, Máirtín O'Connor, Frankie Lane, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Rita Connolly and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh - sheer magic…

The standard of writing over This New Morning's 13 songs is alarmingly consistent, but standouts come with Gaman (an atmospheric, haunting and heartfelt response to Japan's 2011 environmental disasters), Your Little Wings (a simply scored - just voice and fiddle - and incredibly tender address to a group of vulnerable girls who remain oblivious to how vulnerable they are), Heart Man (a chirpy piece dedicated to Luka's friend Shane O'Neill), You Survive (an exploration of the emotion engendered by staying alive after attempted suicide) and the eloquent A Seed Was Sown (a sincere, if perhaps simplistic, comment on a key moment during the Queen's visit to Ireland in May 2011). The semi-spoken odyssey of The Ride feels rather like a second-cousin to Road To Lisdoonvarna, but its sense of freewheeling cycling fun is palpable, with the breeze in the air conjuring "poetry in motion on two wheels around Kildare". There are a couple of slightly jarring moments perhaps: for instance, on reflection maybe the anthemic implications of Across The Breeze feel a touch forced, but it's still a poignant and believable commentary on the law prohibiting the cutting of turf on raised bogs nevertheless and the sensitive folky backdrop suits the subject-matter well. But overall, Luka's natural artistry is unassuming, and really "No Big Deal", as the final song gracefully opines, shrugging its shoulders as Luka puts his guitar down and quietly and unobtrusively leaves the stage.

This New Morning is a masterly collection from a proven songwriter who still has plenty much to say and all the skill to say it.

David Kidman