Denez Prigent is a talented French "gwerz" singer comparable to the Irish "sean nos" singer
Iarla O'Lionaird. Both traditional styles of singing are extremely emotive in nature, with themes frequently dealing with death, loss, and regret, but not confined solely to expressions of woe. Uplifting celebrations of life and love are also part of the gwerz tradition, although they can also be sung in a downcast manner. At times,
Prigent echoes the naked sound of
O'Lionaird; other times, he employs a fuller production, like
Capercaillie or
Gwendal. Irvi is predominantly a subdued recording with exceptions like "Ar Mab-Laer" (aided by the Uilleann pipe playing of
Davy Spillane) and "Hent-eon," both driven by the programming of
Laurent Collat. In an album filled with stark beauty, none surpasses the absolute chilling duet between
Prigent and
Lisa Gerrard on "Gortoz a Ran." ~ Dave Sleger