She has written the dozen tracks herself and crafted arrangements using an impressive series of instruments, from sax, tin whistle and guitar to marimba, bazouki, djembe and darabuka.
Africa is clearly an influence as with the Joni Mitchell/ Joan Baez school of writing and protest. Not a thing wrong with that and Ryan pays close attention to her Irish roots and language.
This singer’s tone is clear and sweet, lending easily to gutsy uptempo. There are love songs here such as ‘Don’t Cry’ but adventuresome story telling also. Tanzania, Moscow, the US and Irish trad in music and language, inform backdrops to ballads. ‘Let Me Fly’ itself is a nod to Amy Johnson, aviator, and there are generous bonus tracks.a
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