Eleven Songs

Irish singer/songwriter Barry Moore, better known as Luka Bloom, has come a long way from the rapid-fire strumming and spare arrangements of his early work. Two decades into his career under the latter moniker (three if you count his work under the former), he has achieved a pleasing combination of subtlety and simplicity in his music, while simultaneously growing more sophisticated. Everything from atmospheric strings to supple Brazilian-tinged grooves is fair game here, framing Bloom's songs artfully. But when all is said and done, the tunes still revolve around his visceral acoustic guitar work, direct, soulful singing, and evocative-but-unadorned songwriting style. ELEVEN SONGS is an album Bloom couldn't have made 20 years ago, the kind of thing that shows the value of experience earned over time.