Moon, Shine On Me, Claddagh Records****

With the unlikeliest touches of gospel and Appalachia, Ring, Co Waterford singer Áine Uí Cheallaigh makes an audacious return to the recording studio. Her decision to partner up with The Fleadh Cowboys' Frankie Lane is a bold one: his subtle arrangements on bass, dobro and pedal steel guitars and on mandolin bring Uí Cheallaighs far-reaching repertoire into sharp relief, and his harmonies on the Pete Seeger-bequeathed opener, How Can I Keep from Singingare nothing short of sublime. Moon, Shine on Meis laden with unexpected treats at every hairpin bend: from a French folk song borrowed from Pierre Bensusan, Jardin d'Amourto the Carter Family's Wildwood Flowerand one of Edward Bunting's collection, The Wounded Huzzar. Uí Cheallaigh marries deep tradition with imaginative innovation: a boon for the general listener and dyed-in- the-wool traditionalist alike. See claddaghrecords.com