Julie Feeney - 13 Songs - Red Ink/SonyBMG

Tell someone this sounds a bit like Bjork and you re as likely to put them off as excite them. Yet as winner of this year s Choice Music Prize Album of the Year and the Irish equivalent of the Mercury Music Prize only a fool would write it off. Not only d

Tell someone this sounds a bit like Bjork and you're as likely to put them off as excite them.

Yet as winner of this year's Choice Music Prize Album of the Year and the Irish equivalent of the Mercury Music Prize only a fool would write it off.

Not only did Feeney compose, arrange and produce the album and artwork, but she played most instruments and, of course, sang.

Instruments include recorder, violin, harmonium, accordion and even a train and all are put to sparse but haunting effect against her porcelain voice.

Here, Feeney allies lyrical talent to joyous, playful and refreshingly unconventional songwriting to draw you in.

4/5