Christchurch Folk Music Club
Enda Kenny – Here and There (CD)
Review by Dave Hart
This man has long been held in the highest regard as one of the finest singer-songwriters of our time. Enda’s songs give a very real view of where he stands and how he sees the world and the events in it. The songs in this C.D. from others’ pens are of the same high standard and could easily have been written by Enda. For me, the album contains no disappointments at all.
“The streets of Joyce” starts the album…home is where the heart is. I found “Comic book” just grows on me …God must be having a really good laugh now. It is so good to hear two of the late Stan Rogers’ songs here: “White squall” singing of the adverse weather conditions on the great American lakes and “Harris and the mare”, for me one of the most powerful songs on the album.
Just how driven to defend his loved one is the peace loving, but cornered man? Just to change the mood entirely, Enda has included his country touch in “Tanya”; very ‘American Country’ and just so catchy. Another listening must is “Spanish Train”, from Chris De Burgh, telling of a card game between God and Satan. Enda covers man’s inhumanity to humanity in “Were you there”, written by Alex Legg, “Who built the bomb?” from Rod MacDonald and his own “Gullible”…show me the proof.
The major backing musicians on the album are Lindsay Martin on fiddle, viola and mandolin and Sandy Brady on basses. They are ably joined by Cameron MacDonald, Tony Hargreaves, Ben Stephenson and Richard Pleasance.
As always, a great pleasure to hear this man perform. His recent concert at Cokers held no disappointments for me and a wee bird tells me that we will hear Enda and friends at the next Waipara folk festival. Online purchases atwww.endakenny.com.au
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