Emma Sweeney
Album: Pangea
Label: Sweeney
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.emmasweeneymusic.com/

Although the Manchester-based young fiddler (finalist at the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2003 and subsequently second runner-up in this magazine's 2010 Tradition Award) may lean heavily on her traditional-Irish background both for much of the material and her basic playing style on Pangea, her debut CD (she was taught by Colin Farrell and, later, Andy Dinan), she also brings to bear a host of other musical influences from around the globe, and to sparkling effect too. Pangea is, of course, an apt title for the album, referring as it does to the scientific theory that the world was once one huge continent…

Indeed, Emma could quite legitimately have her mentor Mike McGoldrick to thank for her own predilection for musical exploration, and Mike repays that debt by contributing extensively to the Pangea sessions, both as musician (wooden flute, low whistle, uilleann pipes, mandolin, dobro) and producer. Part of Mike's skill is of course to ensure that Emma's own talent still shines through the proceedings, which it does most stylishly, whether on expertly-controlled medleys or individual tunes. Emma's a very versatile player, equally at home on the joyful syncopations of the Mountain Top reel-set (track 5) or the absolutely enchanting bluegrass number Golden Fiddle Waltz (from the pen of Randy Howard), the thoughtful self-penned title tune with its Indian influences or the old-timey Elk River Blues, and demonstrates her wonderful blend of sure-footedness and lyricism on the Wheels Of The World set. Emma's own compositions figure well on the disc's menu too, with over half a dozen choice examples including the beautiful canon-like Endless Thoughts, on which her impeccable control of line is at its most persuasive. Just after passing the centre of the disc, Emma brings her singing voice up to the mic for a pleasing, confident account of Nick Drake's A Place To Be which is most attractively accompanied but faded rather too soon.

Other musicians drafted in to play on Emma's debut include Matheu Watson (guitar), Duncan Lyall (double bass) and keyboardist Donald Shaw, while making appearances on isolated tracks we also find John Joe Kelly, John Doyle, Manus Lunny, Matt Griffin, Johnny Hulme, Dave Thom, Ian Fletcher and Lucy Wright. The recording is clear and faithful, except for a rather screeching tone quality (rather like a continuous feedback) that adorns the fiddle itself on the track 10 jig-set, which proves an uncomfortable listen; fortunately, however, it's the only track affected by this curious blemish.

David Kidman