Eleven Songs - Luka Bloom Album Review

Luka Bloom

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Album Review

Was Kevin Barry Moore...now Luka Bloom.

Younger brother of legendary Irish singer-songwriter Christy Moore,

Luka, taken from Suzanne Vega's song of the same name, was adopted to avoid pressures of being related to his older bro. Bloom derives from compatriot James Joyce's Ulysses.

His style is commonly known as electro-acoustic, with a finger-picking style adopted early on in his career, but tendonitis forced him to be strummer instead. He plays in the DADGAD tuning style through a bass amplifier, giving it a warm and haunting timbre.

There's a huge roll-call of musicians on duty: 17, plus members of the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir.

This rich and warm album is very engaging. Not only that, there's a sincerity seldom heard in songwriting these days.

This has primarily been achieved by going for a more traditional 'live' sound, a return to an earlier raw template, aided by (ex-The Frames - ex-Kila / Josh Ritter) guitar wizard David Odlum engineering things. The album takes 'artistic' cues from the simplicity of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' Raising Sand album, not that there are any direct musical comparisons.

Lyrically, Bloom is bursting with inspiration, and there are plenty of melodies to keep us all enthralled at his mastery songcraft. Over 30 years he's remained consistently very good, so there's no change in terms of quality songs which have kept him busy and appreciated in both America and Europe.

Helping him on his way this time comes the second single Don't Be Afraid...., an acoustic flourish, drenched in strings and sparkling piano sojourns with more than a dash of Celtic roots prevailing, boosted by sumptuous choral work by GSGC.

It is however, the stunning There Is A Time that rubber stamps his intentions, while Luka wistfully rolls his Irish lilt. The uplifting and reassuring I'm On Your Side swings gleefully with a belting hook, though there's a lot of instrumental subtlety going on, with intermittent pedal ghosting in the background.

This is segued by the tenderest offering on the CD, the drifting ballad I Hear Her, Like Lorelei. Bloom almost hushes his way through which serves to bring empathy to the piece. Then, what should be a UK single release unfolds - I Love The World I'm In. Drums boom, the acoustic floats and strings and piano loop into action.

At his most passionate, Fire thrusts to frenetic strumming, while See You Soon makes a suitable accompaniment to I Love The World I'm In in tone and flavour, with those magical strings leaning in part towards Damien Rice. For purity of song and effect, Everyman reveals itself as the jewel in the crown - this ballad is a truly magical song

The verdict: Yummy.

Radio - Hear tracks soon on THE PLUG at www.wrexhamfm.com

Elly Roberts