Ireland's third biggest export after Guinness and U2, sisters Andrea, Caroline, Sharon and brother Jim recorded Home, their fifth album, in a matter of weeks, instead of the usual months.

It shows. There is less middle-of-the-road pop here, instead there's more of a sharpness, a spontaneity, to the material which earlier work such as Blue and Forgiven Not Forgotten - all over-polished and over-produced - lacked.

This record also sees the family go back to their Irish roots, with lilting songs such as Spancill Hill and My Lagan Love, pacey jigs such as Haste To The Wedding and traditional songs sung in Gaelic, such as Buachhaill On Eirne (Boy From Ireland) and Brid Og Ni Mhaille.

There are few of The Corrs' trademark crossover numbers and whether they will ever recapture the audiences they reached nearly ten years ago is debatable. But for forging a different path, even if it's a minor detour rather than a major diversion, they should be congratulated.

Rating:
Released: 26th September 2005
Label: Atlantic