The Space Between the Lines No label***

Following up his compelling, autobiographical 800 Voices, Dublin singer-songwriter Danny Ellis continues to mine a rich seam of emotional intimacy, full of stolen moments, fallible memories and tender whispers of ordinary lives. There's a certain vintage feel to this collection, evoking the vocal vulnerability of Gallagher and Lyle on Goldand the wide-open prairies of Americana across much of the rest.

Aside from making sound decisions on accompaniment – with John Doyle bringing a solid backbone to some on mandolin and bazar (a hybrid of bouzouki and guitar) – Ellis's greatest strength lies is his laser-sharp lyrical insights. The emotional flowering of the opener, Shine, epitomises his bare-knuckle journey, and it's one he negotiates ably, without succumbing to maudlin self-indulgence. A solid, and sometimes revelatory, collection. See dannyellismusic.com

Download track: Shine, Gold