Christy Moore

Folk Tale

(Sony)

It’s not just his spellbinding return to onstage performances, after apparently being utterly spent, that has made Christy Moore an even more fascinating figure over the past decade. There’s also the continued honing of his art as a singer of his and other songwriters’ words on his enduring recording partnership with concert accompanist Declan Sinnott. Folk Tale represents another step forward on their journey as Sinnott’s warm production spotlights Moore’s clear, persuasively melodic storytelling on a collection that may not have the surprise element of a Pink Floyd song, like its predecessor Listen, but still finds winning ways of extending Moore as a one-man tradition, equal parts poetry, compassion, quiet outrage and humour. On Morecambe Bay he pays beautiful tribute to vulnerable migrant workers. Haiti speaks for itself. The title track is gentle, deep and secure in its subtle string accompaniment. Weekend In Amsterdam is a jaunty successor to Lisdoonvarna and, in another age, the wonderfully observed My Little Honda 50 might have given Moore a charmingly daft Christmas Number 1.

Rob Adams