PAL'S DEATH BRINGS BLACK OUT OF SEMI-RETIREMENT

The death of a close pal gave Irish folk legend MARY BLACK the impetus she needed to return to the studio after convincing herself her 1999 album SPEAKING WITH THE ANGEL would be her last. The singer admits she quietly retired from making music because she couldn't get inspired to write and record a new album for six years. She reveals, "I was actually feeling that maybe this was a natural wind-down: `Maybe there isn't going to be another album.' I mean, we all have to hang up our boots at some stage." But Black's unofficial retirement plans ended when songwriting pal NOEL BRAZIL died. The singer has recorded many Brazil songs over the years and found herself returning to his music after his death. She adds, "I thought, `There are still so many of his songs I'd love to sing.' I was thinking, `Wouldn't that be a lovely tribute to him.'" Black then turned her holiday home in County Kerry, Ireland into a makeshift studio and started recording her latest album FULL TIDE. She tells folk music magazine Dirty Linen,, "The whole experience was spiritual almost, because it's such a gorgeous place and it means so much to me."

17/03/2007 02:17