Seán Keane
A
Portrait: Best of 1993-2003
Circín Rua CR004CD; 71 minutes; 2004
There is something decisively odd
about the cover of Seán Keane’s latest album, something perhaps a little
ecclesiastical. It surely cannot have been deliberate but that white t-shirt
collar poking above his pullover and the dark jacket does rather give him the
air of a parish priest! Still, such an image is unlikely to deter his legions
(hmm, perhaps not the right word) of fans, some of whom seem rather more
interested in his latter-day status as one of Irish music’s leading
heartthrobs. Indeed some may find the photograph all the more enthralling. 
This latest album collates sixteen
tracks from the albums he released between 1993 and 2003 and also includes two
newly recorded songs, according to the accompanying press release. Somewhat
annoyingly, however, neither said release nor the liner notes reveals the
identity of this new material. Indeed,
the liner only provides each song’s title, author(s), publishing details and
lyrics. Details of personnel, the producers, dates and the sourced albums are
all notably absent. This is a pity since the purpose of a compilation such as
this is, partly, to draw attention to a singer’s back catalogue.
The material itself demonstrates
just how far Seán has travelled from his musical roots. Only three of those
eighteen tracks (May Morning Dew, Bundlin and Stór Mo Chroí)
are traditional. The remainder derive from sources as varied as Bob Dylan, Mick
Hanly, Lennon and McCartney, Townes Van Zandt, Richard Thompson and Robbie
O’Connell, not forgetting Mr. Sting. There is a pronounced Country edge to many
of the arrangements, but Seán’s soft tones are definitely not always suited to
his choice of material. He genuinely is too mild a man ever to consider Killing
the Blues and it is difficult not to conjure images of the singer bedecked
in a Gannex raincoat, sporting a trilby and cowering under an oversized golf
umbrella when singing ‘I’m no stranger to the rain’. Contrastingly, songs such
as Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears and, of course, A Stór Mo Chroí are
perfect vehicles for that plucking of the heartstrings at which Seán is so
adept.
Geoff Wallis
3rd August, 2004
For more information about Séan
visit www.seankeane.com.