Caroline Keane - Rise

Six years on from her acclaimed debut solo album Shine, West Kerry-based concertina virtuoso Caroline Keane releases Rise, her second artistic effort. A collection of tunes blending traditional pieces with modern, often original compositions, it’s performed with a lineup including Tom Delany and Steve Cooney.

The opening set Three Sisters is a homage to the women from her native Dingle peninsula. The whole album is an exquisite balance of fire and restraint, with fast-paced jigs, reels and polkas alternating with moments of serenity. The foot-tapping, very technical reel set Tommy Maguire’s / The Mossy Banks is arguably the most striking track, the one where Keane’s instrumental talent and individual playing shine the most.

She is also able to deliver highly emotional moments. This is particularly evident in Mon Père Vit Dans les Etoiles, which, despite the French sounding title, is a heart-breaking homage to her father in which her mother Cecilia Keane plays a second concertina.

The sympathetic accompaniment acts as the perfect foil, anchoring Keane’s intricate melodic excursions and variations without overwhelming them. She delivers these tunes with quiet, youthful, and masterful confidence; ornaments and technical dexterity never overshadow the soul of these pieces, presented in traditional, but catchy fashion.

Rise is an enjoyable album that further strengthens Keane’s reputation of one of the most recognisable concertina players on the Irish folk scene. One can now wonder whether there will be a third chapter.