Unashamedly anachronistic, Ireland's rockabilly queen lets her fourth album pick up where her breakthrough third album, Mayhem, left off in 2010. Or, if you prefer, where Eddie Cochran left off half a century earlier. Aside from a passing reference to eBay on Round the Bend, (and perhaps the novelty of a woman singing this sort of material) there's little here that would surprise a 1960 rock'n'roller. That's not a criticism, because May's an engaging and entertaining storyteller on the more breakneck material, particularly the dynamic Wild Woman and the melodically astute Hellfire Club. The ballads, however, are less distinguished, with Little Pixie in particular more delicate than memorable.
Imelda May: Tribal review – ‘breakneck rockabilly’
The Irish star tells an engaging story at speed but falters on the ballads, writes Phil Mongredien