When all is still

"McShane is a cellist, fiddler, viola player and singer who served a long and productive musical apprenticeship in the great - and now sadly defunct - Bellowhead ... When All Is Still is McShane's first solo album in nine years, it shows no sign of rustiness or loss of momentum. It is a rollicking ride through a set of interestingly chosen traditional tunes, many with new arrangements written by McShane herself, or by melodeon supremo Julian Sutton, who has previously recorded with Kathryn Tickell and Sting. They are joined by guitarist Matthew Ord and a whole host of collaborative talent, including a number of former Bellowhead members".

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"Certainly this is a far more measured and sedate effort than her rather frentic first solo album 'No Man's Fool' in 2009, with Mattew Ord and Julian Sutton providing empathetic accompaniment to her accomplished violin and viola as well as her wistful vocals ... Other than a mix of original tunes by Julian Sutton and herself, it's all traditional fare and Rachael doesn't lack boldness in her choices of material. There's plenty of fun stuff".