Sharon Shannon is one of the rare accordionists with a successful solo career. The hugely popular virtuoso player of accordion, violin and whistle in her homeland loves to renew Irish folk with elements from country, reggae, calypso or tango. Shannon's partner Leo Healy, who died unexpectedly in 2008, had a great idea for a new studio album: make a lively, upbeat and fun party album with as many
… 'crazy people' as guest musicians. Indeed, quite a few 'villains' worked on the album Saints & Scoundrels: besides alcoholic Shane MacGowan (ex-singer of The Pogues and The Popes) and alternative Jerry Fish (The Mudbug Club), Shannon introduces a raw humorous local band from Galway, The Cartoon Thieves. Shannon's former band The Waterboys are also present, the impressive rockabilly singer Imelda May and singer Carol Keogh (Automata, Tychonaut). A highlight is the song Saints And Angels, which never made it to The Waterboys' Fisherman's Blues album, but is now premiering in a reunion line-up. Shannon's instrumental track Cape Clear forms a lyrical interlude on an album full of sparkling feel-good music. (SvdP)more
