Passenger

iTunes Review

A former member of Damien Rice’s band, Lisa Hannigan moved into the spotlight with her 2009 Mercury-nominated solo debut, Sea Sew. As good as that release is, Passenger is even better. It’s not radically different, but it’s more dynamic and colorful, revealing a broader range of sophisticated folk-pop. Featuring intricate chamber arrangements and subtle instrumental touches, the songs are understated and performed with restraint. “A Sail”, “A Knot”, and “What’ll I Do” are catchy and buoyant. “Paper House” is shimmering and ethereal. And the title track, “Little Bird”, and “O Sleep” (featuring vocals by Ray Lamontagne) are rich and intimate. A skilled multi-instrumentalist, Hannigan plays guitar, mandolin, ukulele, and banjo here, and she’s joined by a strong band on drums, keyboards, trumpet, fiddle, and bass along with producer Joe Henry (Solomon Burke, Loudon Wainwright III, Elvis Costello). Hannigan’s soothing, seductive voice is simply gorgeous, and her quirky delivery complements her dreamy melodies well.