Ciara Sidine
Shadow Road Shining
Self Released – Sidine CDLP001
Dublin songwriter with angelic voice contemplates giving up the day job – no contest – she should
Ciara is a well known literary editor who has worked on a number of best sellers. Shadow Road Shining is her first release. A measure of how highly she is thought of can be seen in the CV’s of her accompanying musicians. Paul Moore, Bass, Justin Carroll, keyboards are regular Van Morrison sidemen, Steve Wickham, violin is a member of The Waterboys and has performed with the likes of Bob Dylan and Conor Brady on guitars and banjo is known from Toots & The Maytalls and Terence Trent Derby.
Likened in many reviews to sounding like Irish legend Mary Black, Ciara has a voice to die for. While I can see the hurry to find someone to compare her to I feel that this does her a bit of a disservice, as on this hearing she brings her own distinct stamp to these powerful songs.
It is not only the quality of the singing that stands out here. All of the songs are written by Ciara (apart from Riding Home co-written with Conor Brady). This is definitely very much in the Americana field but with Ciara’s strong Irish/Celtic roots embedded deep within the songs. The excellent and beautiful The Arms Of Summer as lovely a song about Johnny Cash as you will hear is embellished by some brilliant violin and is just one song worth buying this album for. But Ciara puts her soul into all of the songs including a majestic Constellations High where she duets with Jack Lukeman a well known and respected Irish Singer. The album ends with a breathless Sleepy Eyes which is very reminiscent of the singing style of Maria McKee.
Apparently Ciara is wondering whether to take up music full time. On this showing there should be no hesitation.
John Jobling
This Review Originally Appeared In Maverick Country Magazine Maverick Country Magazine
