Singer/songwriter Martin Furey and his younger sister
Aine Furey are a new generation of a long-respected Celtic folk-singing family, along the lines of
Clannad or an Irish version of
the Copper Family. Their debut as the duo
Bohinta was recorded in bits and pieces over more than half a decade, but it doesn't sound piecemeal or slapped together. Martin Furey wrote all of the songs, many of which are reminiscent of
Ashley Hutchings' post-
Fairport Convention work, when the bassist was setting traditional-sounding folk tunes and lyrics in a rock & roll context. As a result, the haunting and extremely trad-sounding ballad "Bonnie Winds" fits perfectly next to the nervous, percussive art-folk "Fortsong" simply by virtue of the two superficially dissimilar songs being rooted in the same traditions. Although Martin Furey is a fine singer, the real star of the album is
Aine Furey, whose rich, mellifluous voice recalls both
June Tabor and
Linda Thompson at points. ~ Stewart Mason