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Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent
@jeremydwilliams
6:00 AM 28th May 2020
arts

Eimear Quinn - Ériu

 
Eimear Quinn effortlessly fought off competition from Norway's Elisabeth Andreassen and Sweden's One More Time at the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest to prove that she was The Voice that everyone was rooting for that evening. Since then she has released three stunning albums and continued to prove on the live circuit that she is a vocalist that can melt even the hardest of hearts.



Having taken time since 2007's Oh Holy Night to focus on parenting, she returns to prominence once again with a new collection of songs, Ériu. Named after Ireland's mother goddess, this is a collection that not only celebrates the powerful women in Ireland's history, but also the rich culture and distinctive musical tones of the emerald isle.

Although a reworking of her classic Eurovision winning single is featured in the collection, and will no doubt prove a strong pull for the loyal fans of the contest, it is not all the album has to offer and it is far from the highlight. The orchestral reworking is as lush and rich as the original, with Eimear's angelic vocal still providing all the tingles, but it is in all the rich moments building to this closing moment that the depth of intricacy in her delivery shines.

The crisp, clean note that opens the album on the supreme Love Endless shows that this is an album that will blow you away time and again. As she breathes life into each moment, this honey-clear clarity of her ethereal voice and the subtle arrangements by the RTE Concert Orchestra lift your heart and entice your mind.

While current single, the thought provoking The Watchman is an early highlight, it is joined by the tender Crucán Na Bpáiste and soaring Butterfly as the album's gems in a rather glistening crown.

Fans may have waited 13 years for a new record, but every moment will be worth the wait when they hear this crisp, heart-warming beauty.



Pre-Order Ériu