This week's folk releases reviewed

LISA HAKE

Wind Under Wood No label ***

Lisa Hake's second CD takes its title from Chinese mysticism, suggesting that what is gentle can also be most penetrating. This West Virginia- born, Co Louth resident is growing in confidence as a songwriter, tackling traditional, folk and contemporary themes. Worry Dollis a standout, with James Blennerhassett's double bass bringing backbone to the paper lace of Hake's vocals and guitar, and some judicious banjo-guitar imbuing the piece with a distinctly David Lynchian mood. Although Hake's subject matter is diverse (musing on everything from 21st-century treasure hunters to Einstein's Theory of Relativity), at times the simplicity of the production melds one song with another, their distinctive features gasping for the chance to step into the limelight. Homegrown but smooth-hewn, Hake's a songwriter crying out for a producer who can capture her strengths with conviction. www.lisahake.com

Download tracks: Worry Doll, Which Wind