Name: Heart's Desire
Brand: Naxos of America Inc.
SKU: 243508
Price: 12.91 USD
Availability: InStock

Heart's Desire

Rating

Album: Heart's Desire
#	Song Title		Time
1)	My Lagan Love	More Info...	0:03
2)	The Rigs of Rye	More Info...	0:04
3)	Jenny Picking Cockles/Colliers	More Info...	0:02
4)	West Coast Of Clare	More Info...	0:04
5)	Banks Of The Clyde	More Info...	0:05
6)	A Kiss in the Morning Early	More Info...	0:03
7)	Done With Bonaparte	More Info...	0:03
8)	New Holland Grove	More Info...	0:03
9)	The Brown Bull Of Cill Na Mona/The Tipperary Temptress	More Info...	0:03
10)	Brokenhearted I'll Wander	More Info...	0:06
11)	Syracuse	More Info...	0:04
12)	Tide Full In	More Info...	0:02
13)	Sweet Inniscarra	More Info...	0:04
14)	Bramblethorn	More Info...	0:03

Album: Heart's Desire
#	Song Title		Time
1)	My Lagan Love	More Info...	0:03
2)	The Rigs of Rye	More Info...	0:04
3)	Jenny Picking Cockles/Colliers	More Info...	0:02
4)	West Coast Of Clare	More Info...	0:04
5)	Banks Of The Clyde	More Info...	0:05
6)	A Kiss in the Morning Early	More Info...	0:03
7)	Done With Bonaparte	More Info...	0:03
8)	New Holland Grove	More Info...	0:03
9)	The Brown Bull Of Cill Na Mona/The Tipperary Temptress	More Info...	0:03
10)	Brokenhearted I'll Wander	More Info...	0:06
11)	Syracuse	More Info...	0:04
12)	Tide Full In	More Info...	0:02
13)	Sweet Inniscarra	More Info...	0:04
14)	Bramblethorn	More Info...	0:03

Performer Notes

Personnel includes: Niamh Parsons (vocals); Dennis Cahill (guitar, mandolin); Graham Dunne (guitar); Josephine Marsh (accordion); Mick Kinsella (harmonica).
Heart's Desire finds singer Niamh Parsons in a more exposed situation than on her earlier albums, with only the sparest of accompaniment and, in several cases, no accompaniment at all. For some singers this would be a big mistake, but those familiar with Parsons' previous work will know what a treat to expect. She has one of those singing voices that manages to draw you in completely with no apparent effort and without the slightest showiness or affectation. Heart's Desire offers a nicely varied program of songs that will be familiar to most lovers of Irish music (including "My Lagan Love" and "Brokenhearted I'll Wander") as well as some lovely obscurities, among them "Done With Bonaparte" (which features lyrics by Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler set to the traditional "Valentia Island") and a gentle anti-war ballad called "Bramblethorn," on which Parsons sings in duet with her sister Anne. This being Irish vocal music, the mood is pretty uniformly quiet and often heartbroken, though never in a less-than-lovely way, and Parsons' voice is a consistently uplifting contrast to the downcast lyrics. Highly recommended, along with all of her previous work. ~ Rick Anderson

Professional Reviews

Yoga Journal (06/03, p.184) - "...Parsons has not only the pure voice but also the delicate interpretive power to join June Tabor and the late Sandy Denny in the pantheon of beloved British Isles singers..."