Bap Kennedy
Album: The Sailor's Revenge
Label: Proper
Tracks: 11
Website: www.bapkennedy.com

It's one of life's great mysteries. How can Bap Kennedy have made such consistently good music since the early nineties, firstly with the band Energy Orchard and subsequently as a solo artist, and not be a household name in the UK? It's not as though he has kept a particularly low profile ,having worked with the likes of Nanci Griffith, Steve Earle, Van Morrison, Shane MacGowan and, latterly, Mark Knopfler [who produced and plays on his latest album, The Sailor's Revenge].

Hopefully, with this new album, he will reach a wider audience as he certainly deserves to. It is beautifully written and played and will definitely to appeal to fans of the Transatlantic Sessions, as a fusion of Celtic and Country influences. Indeed, the album features the great dobro player Jerry Douglas, as well as other highly-respected musicians, such as Glenn Worf.

This album is a delight from start to finish, with every song being a winner, from the gorgeous opener "Shimnavale" to the closing "Celtic Sea". One of my particular favourites is the glorious "Lonely No More", which features some lovely dobro and fiddle.

Anyone who enjoys Mark Knopfler's solo work will appreciate this album, as will fans of Jerry Douglas's dobro playing with Union Station.

If this album had been made by an American artist, it would, no doubt, be hailed as a masterpiece. Let's hope that with the involvement of Mr. Knopfler, Mr.Douglas and Co, Bap can at last get the recognition the UK that he truly deserves because this is a fine album.

Peter Cowley