Marie Fielding
Album: An Seisiun
Label: Rumford
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.mariefieldingmusic.com/home.htm

Releasing an album of tunes that is, thematically and stylistically, meant to be listened to (and performed) in the pub can be a tricky art. There's a risk of alienation your audience and failure to recreate the intended emotions and atmosphere in the listeners mind as they experience a record in their car or kitchen rather than a whiskey soaked tap room. Kudos to Edinburgh native Marie Fielding though as on new album' An Seisiun' she's not only managed to lift the tunes clean off the bar room floor but has also put together a set of tunes that have a disarming sense of welcome, comfort and familiarity pervading throughout.

Front to back 'An Seisiun' is engaging and captivating helped in no small measure by the top notch musicianship that comes from the carefully selected that Fielding has put together to augment her own excellent fiddle and strings wizardry. The songwriting on offer is again, of a very high standard with upbeat but slower tunes seguing effortlessly into toe-tapping territory from which you can almost hear the whoops and hollers from the back of the bar.

Recorded deep in the heart of Dingle the musical skillset is derived of both Scotland and Ireland, none more so than on the albums only vocally accompanied track which sees Dingle native Pauline Scanlon give a stunning performance on a spellbinding rendition of 'The Parting Glass'. It's been recorded a thousand times before but I'd wager that it's never been bested by the beautifully tender version contained herein.

Marie Fielding was finalist in two categories at the Na Trad Awards in 2013 without taking home a prize. On the evidence of 'An Seisiun' it would be foolish to bet against her walking away with a clutch of trophies at next year's ceremony. Pour yourself a dram and let wherever you are become your own private bar - with 'An Seisiun' staying in really can be the new going out!

Rob Fearnley