Six Months No Sun

On Six Months, No Sun, Kieran Kane continues along the path that he started down first as one-half of the O'Kanes, and then on his first two solo albums, Kieran Kane and Dead Rekoning; solid songwriting embellished by almost understated instrumentation, drawing on country, bluegrass, folk, and rock elements in equal portion. The songs on Six Months, No Sun, most of them penned by Kane, are in a range of styles. The two inspired covers, though, demonstrate his range: the bluegrass standard, "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight," and the pop standard, "What a Wonderful World," made familiar by Louis Armstrong. Highlights on the album include the title track, which is a solid country song, and "Table Top Dancer," which is a rather bleak vignette of working-class life. Another stand-out is "Hysteria," co-written with Irish singer/songwriter Andy White. There are also skillfully worded songs of love gone wrong, including "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" and "Foolish As That May Be." Relying primarily on acoustic instrumentation (including the fiddle and mandolin of Tammy Rogers), Kane places the emphasis squarely on the songs themselves. His skill as a songwriter is such that the songs are substantial enough to stand such stark relief. While perhaps not as strong as his earlier solo efforts, Kane has made another solid album with Six Months, No Sun. ~ Martin Monkman|