Heidi Talbot – The Last Star

 

Made in Ireland and based in Edinburgh, Heidi Talbot's lilting cadence may be most familiar as a collaborator with Drever, McCusker and Woomble and Idlewild. As a musician in her own right, she has so far lacked the crossover appeal someone like Kate Rusby or Seth Lakeman enjoys. Perhaps this is due to her pan-celtic intonation, at once recognisably Irish with a a few subtly rolled Rs betraying her current home, unfairly relegating her to heritage music while an anglophonic tenor can break through to the singer/songwriter rack.

Though Talbot has a determined sweetness to her voice, with this set of similarly tailored songs you might wish for a little more richness in tone to sustain interest. When the full band can be heard, like with the waltzing Tell Me Truly, Talbot becomes much more engaging. Sally Brown is another swashbuckling peak in a plateau of otherwise pleasant acoustic ditties. [Oisín Kealy]