If your CV boasts playing with legends, and legends who seek out and find you that include Steve Earl, Van Morrison and Mark Knopfler, in my eyes youve got to be good. In fact I would categorically say you are more than good. And so Bap Kennedy has brought to us The Sailors Revenge, a more than good album.
Straight off its that Waterboys feel and sound for me. Celtic sounds, strings, pipes and harmonies. In fact the front cover is possibly the best reflection of what you have inside on disc. Kennedy walking towards us on a small path from a messy wild sea, its very dramatic and moving, very much alike the album. Mike Scott could well have played and written a lot of this stuff - really good.
Baps background is one coming from the Belfast band, Energy Orchard who released five albums before they split up. He has since released a number of solo albums where hes collaborated with the likes of Earl and Morrison as well as Nanci Griffith and Shane MacGowan.
Such diversity and high quality in musicianship and song writing continues on his new effort. The Sailors Revenge is an album for all. Highlights are littered throughout; Shimnavale and The Sailors Revenge are brilliant tracks to my ears - somehow very familiar yet new. I particularly like Kennedys story of the Chilean miners rescue from a time not so long ago in Jimmy Sanchez chilling, thoughtful and simply put.
Mark Knopfler has produced a wonderful album for Bap Kennedy and for us all.