Rioghnach Connolly is a powerful, emotional singer and an impressive flautist, as she has proved with the Manchester “folk-hop” outfit Honeyfeet and her appearances with the Afro Celt Sound System. Her new venture is a more restrained affair. In the Breath she is joined by guitarist Stuart McCallum, along with a drummer and pianist who played with him in Cinematic Orchestra. Their debut set starts with a wash of sound and cool, drifting vocals from Connolly before tougher guitar lines move in, and continues in much the same vein. This is sophisticated, atmospheric music that veers between ambient and soul styles, and is pleasant rather than exciting – I preferred Connolly’s more gutsy, melodic work with the Afro Celts. Perhaps the Breath will allow her to show off her full range at their Womad festival appearance later this summer.
