Michael Banahan, from Roscommon, is well known in Ireland as a solo singer of traditional music and a member of Rig The Jig but mostly as a promoter and manager. However, Broken Heart is a departure, being his debut album of original material. Michael plays guitar, bodhran and harmonica and is supported by Andrew Holesworth (who also mixed the record) on keyboards, and percussion but mostly by Bill Shanley doing everything else including production. There is a timelessness about the album – I’m tempted to say “old-fashioned” just because it takes me back to the listening of my youth.
The first track, ‘Winter In The City’, paints us a rather gentler picture than Alan Hull did but beneath that veneer is a hard edge that recalls the notion of winter roaring in. ‘The Tango’ suggests a personal story from Michael’s past as does the title track a couple of steps down the road. ‘Ballad Of Mikey Carthy’ is probably a piece of fiction but you can never tell with Irish songwriting. It has a tongue-in-cheek chorus which leads into ‘Hit The Road’, a song that begins with the same chorus, this time as an intro.
‘Leaving On Your Mind’ is another song of lost love but now I’m beginning to wonder how many sad love affairs that Michael has suffered. ‘The Busker’ is an updated take on Mikey Carthy’s story set in an unkind world and I can’t help but think that there is a nugget of truth in this tale. Don’t tell me if I’m wrong, I’d rather cling to my dreams. ‘Walking On Eggshells’ is an almost funky song returning to unhappy love affairs while ‘Find My Own Way Back’ sees Michael coming out the other side.
‘Closing Time’ is a metaphor for regrets and yet another unhappy love affair told with the wisdom of the older man, The final track takes us back to 1935 when “De Valera ruled our land” and from the opening you’re led to thinking that this is about a major historical event down there in County Mayo. In fact, it’s the story of the building of ‘Pollavaddy Dance Hall’ which must have been a big thing back then and it’s great that Michael Banahan has chosen to celebrate it. Take it out of Ireland and it would make a great country and western song.
Broken Heart is a gentle album, mostly of reminicences turned into songs – some wistful, some joyful bur always listenable.
Dai Jeffries
Artist’s website: https://michaelbanahan.ie/
‘The Tango’ – official video:
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