Gathered over nearly 10 years, this sees BellX1 lead singer Paul Noonan strike out semi-solo in the company of an array of highly accomplished female vocalists. Duetting with the likes of Joan as Policewoman, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Lisa Hannigan, Cathy Davy, Martha Wainwright and Gemma Hayes, Noonan and his songs dwell in the mellow-melancholy zone, yet the delicate execution, sparseness of arrangements and tonal delivery complement each other perfectly. He seems to have selected the best voice for the song; if you're looking for emotionally resonant, low-key folk/pop, then it's here in 50 shades of subdued colours. Yet this is by no means a one-note enterprise – songs as nuanced as Vapour Trails (Joan), Apparatchick (Hannigan) and The Cartographer (Kennedy) showcase the project's intuitive grasp of light and shade. printerclips.com
Download: Vapour Trails, Apparatchick, The Cartographer