OK, I have no idea where I got this one.

Love of the Sea is, according to the extremely brief liner notes, a companion to Love of the Land. Fair enough. But who is Bebe MacLean? Where did I get this album? I found it on a shelf while browsing through my collection of maritime music, so presumably she's from that deeply musical region of Canada. (The album was recorded in Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, which is a clue to its origins, although that's not a part of the island I have visited.) I don't have any recollection of meeting her or seeing her perform at any of the Celtic Colours International Festivals that took me to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, many times over the years. And I don't recall receiving the disc in the mail for review, either. Frankly, I don't remember having seen this album before and, although it was unwrapped, I certainly don't think I ever heard it, either.

It's a mystery.

But, no matter. Wherever it came from, it's here now. And, since I pulled it from the shelf after spotting it (while looking for some early recordings from Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster and PEI fiddler Cynthia MacLeod), I might as well give it a listen.

This album is definitely a bit of a time capsule. Although recorded in 2009, it sounds like something from the old field recordings that ethnomusicologists like Alan Lomax made to preserve folk music traditions. The songs here are all sea ballads, mostly traditional and very familiar to those who know the genre. So, look for the likes of "New York Girls," "Maid on the Shore," "The Blackbird," "Donkey Riding," "John Kanaka" and "The Leaving of Liverpool."

The one original song on the album, "A She Shanty," holds its own on the playlist and sounds like it could be traditional. She also covers a couple of songs -- "At the Codfish Ball," "Bluenose," "Fisherman's Song" and "A Swallow Song" -- all of which are "used with permission" although none provides credit to the writer.

Bebe sings and plays a nylon-strung guitar. Joining her on the album are Andrew Kent on fiddle, Stepane Deraspe on keyboards, acoustic guitar, accordion, bass, banjo, mandolin, percussion and backing vocals, and Brycen Gunn on backing vocals.

Bebe sings with a quavery style of vocals that, I'll be honest, is not to my taste. I like my sea shanties a bit more boisterously performed. But this style of singing certainly has its audience, so if this is your type of thing, give Bebe a listen. She offers 13 tracks for your enjoyment.