In his piece on Polly Barrett's debut album, Mr Bookshop (2012), my fellow Whisperin' & Hollerin' reviewer Leo Newbiggin adjudged this young Irish singer to be more pop than folk and, after listening to her sophomore album, I can well understand why.
Whether she is singing about young soldiers who are "men before they're ready and dead before too long" (The Greater Good) or wishing to be "real and not a machine" (Who Knows) any serious messages are continually undermined by the breeziness of the vocal delivery.
Knowing where to place her is further complicated by an atypical background. She progressed from busking on the streets of Cork to a debut stage appearance in Dublin Galaxy Theatre's production of the pantomime Beauty & The Beast and she has also played a number of roles in TV commercials.
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Although her cheery tone gives the songs a poppier quality, her folk aspirations are still very much in evidence as demonstrated by the inclusion of the two traditional tunes : Planxsty's P Sounds For Paddy I Suppose and the Child ballad Anachie Gordon.
These are given a measure of authenticity by producer Scott Poley who also plays most of the backing instruments including mandolin and dobro.
Barrett appears to be a genuine, unpretentious talent but needs to develop a broader vocal range to bring out the pathos and irony the material demands.
Polly Barrett's website
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