Box On - Shona Kipling + Damien O'Kane

Focal Music, FMCD02

Now established as new young heavyweights, Shona and Damien have waited three years since the release of their much-applauded first CD Pure Chance to come up with this mature and exciting new offering, honouring Shona's pledge to her late and valued father to not make a new record until she had something positive to say.

      It's been worth the wait: this album is full of good tunes and ear-awakening arrangements, delivered with musicianship of the highest order. Mostly their own compositions, with a leavening of traditional numbers, sewn into three to seven minute sets, giving room for sophisticated musical development, but being pulled off with great energy and life, and with a real feeling for the music's roots.

     Damien is from Ireland, a champion tenor banjo player and a pretty fine guitarist to boot. Shona is from Durham, already with more awards than you could shakea stick at. They met in Sweden, studied on the Newcastle course, are already respected teachers and sought after session musicians.

     Shona is one of several young virtuoso musicians revealing the range of music that can be played well on piano accordion. Although she's been compared to Sharon Shannon, I'm not sure that's very helpful: to be sure, some of her nimble playing on the reels here does put one in mind of that great player, but the range and complexity of what Shona achieves in arrangements, and in expressive playing, is very different.

     Standout track? Many, but try 'Ferret Panting', which you can hear on preview on their myspace. reservations? Few, though of the two songs, 'Airdi Cuan' (by the last of the Glen Poets of Antrim, Sean Mac Ambrois) is given a robust arrangement which I think works well while in 'P Stands for Paddy', I feel the accent is on the skill of the arrangement and the strength of the singing, rather than the emotion of the narrative.

     I suppose this CD will be filed under 'Celtic', but although the roots are firmly in Ireland, it has much wider horizons. Recommended for lover of Celtic music, but also for all who are excited to see what the talented rising generation is making of our roots music.

www.shonaanddamien.co.uk > www.myspace.com/shonakiplinganddamienokane