Irish Traditional Music CD Review March 2007
March 07
A really tasty trio this month. Short column, too, as Editor and Gestapo Officer, David Lattimer demands earlier and earlier deadlines so he can have more and more time to pursue “other interests”, if you get our drift.
First is a lovely bit from Niall Vallely, Paul Meehan and Caomhin Vallely entitled, Buille. We are told “buille” is Irish for “punch “or “strike”. Well (get the moans ready here), the album is certainly buille, as it definitely packs a punch. We apologize for the foregoing, but it is this new schedule for deadlines, you see. Anyway, we have long admired Niall’s concertina playing and rank him highly along with the likes of Jacqueline McCarthy, Noel Hill and Micheal O’ Raghallaigh. Paul Meehan is known to many through his well-earned, steady work as a guitarist in the tradition. Caoimhin plays a lovely piano. This 10-tune, all-instrumental brill was recorded in Ireland and Scotland—the Scottish bit due, no doubt, to Capercaille’s Donald Shaw serving as the producer. We love it. There is great lift to the reels, and a truly soulful turn or two by Niall on the airs. All the tunes are original, and almost all are wonderful. Some should be instant classics. This album is clear, direct, incredibly well played and true to itself. To the bone. These are three wonderful and talented musicians, and they have a self-titled winner on their hands—the group, Buille and the album, Buille. Truly, truly terrific. Rating: 3&1/2 Harps.
The regular reader knows how many albums we have reviewed over the years from the Scottish power label, Greentrax. We have found it interesting that the only Irish group on the label is the sensational, North Cregg. Must be something about being true to their Scottish routes, but so be it. This is another label that cares about its artists, and really loves the music. The Cregg’s new album is, The Roseland Barndance—no doubt named for the traditional tune of the same name. North Cregg is Christy Leahy on button accordion, Claire-Anne Lynch, vocals, Liam Flanagan on fiddle and banjo, Ciaran Coughlan on piano and Martin Leahy on guitar and drums. The genesis of the group is in Cork. No one else sounds like North Cregg. Terrific swing, a real sliabh luachra feel to the whole thing, joined by the really lovely vocals of Claire-Anne Lynch in what we believe is her second album with the band. Overall, it is the band’s fourth album, and second for Greentrax. For the lover of the sliabh luachra style and swing, welcome to heaven. There are some mighty barndances and jigs—joining our favorite, Crehan’s Reels, named for the great fiddler, Junior Crehan. No one plays slides like bands from Cork—and The Cregg is probably the best, as evidenced by a set of four that begins with I’d Rather Be Married Than Left. We continue to love this band, and this label. Another distinctive, creative winner from The North Cregg wheelhouse. Great, great stuff. Rating: Four Harps
Beoga is from Northern Ireland (Armagh) and is a stunning band. They are going to be at Irish Fest this summer, and we cannot wait. The album is entitled, Mischief. The group is Liam Bradley on piano, Niamh Dunne on vocals and fiddle, Eamon Murray on bodhran, Darrian McKee on button box and Sean ‘Og Graham on button box, guitar, bouzouki and mandolin. We have been playing them regularly on the radio show since they sent us this new album. It is one of the best this year. Super vocals, a terrific staccato beat to the rhythm with a real sense of style and wit. This is a major, major band to be reckoned with. On several occasions during the early listens, we actually found ourselves laughing out loud to some of the musical inventiveness on tunes such as Jazzy Wilbur and songs like Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone. Emotional resonance in songs like Love is a Delicate Thing meets surprises like the inclusion of the old Steely Dan favorite, Dirty Work. Power and nuance, humor, talent aplenty. Get ready for a long run for Beoga. We love this group and we love this self-produced and distributed album. Rating Four Harps
Notes:
We were at the Concert of the Year Thursday night, March 8. The Dave Munnelly Band was at The Irish American Heritage Center under the invite of the man, John Daly and his Salon Series featuring the best in Irish music. The five artists provided the greatest Irish music concert we have ever attended. Dave Munnelly on box, Kieran Munnelly on flute and bodhran, Tony Byrne on guitar and Paul Kelly on fiddle and mandolin were joined by Chicago’s own, Kat Eggleston on vocals in a stunner of an evening. Just ask anyone smart enough to have been there. The tunes! Good Lord—then there was Kat singing her heart out and winning ours all over again. As we write this, it was five nights ago, and we are still gobsmacked and out of words. Unbelievable. We are sure John will have them back. Can’t wait. Can’t wait. Can’t wait—BTW, Munnelly Band WILL be at Irish Fest again this summer in Milwaukee.
That concert followed the appearance of Flook at Ballydoyle’s in Downers Grove the preceding Tuesday night. Flautist Sarah Allen of the group is on maternity leave, so she is being filled in for by Ireland’s greatest musician, Michael McGoldrick. We were proud of ourselves that, as we were introduced to McGoldrick for the first time at the concert, we neither fainted nor slobbered on his shoes. A magical evening. Flook just rolls along as one of The Big Three—Munnelly, Flook and Brock-McGuire. What a great night!!!
All prayers for Tommy Makem—-and we hear Paddy Reilly is much on the mend!! God bless both.
Do listen to Blarney on the Air every Monday night from 7-9 p.m. Chicago time on 90.9 fm and www.wdcb.org. We continue to try to educate Dublin’s, Shay Clarke about Irish music, we continue to argue, he continues to be wrong, and—-hopefully—you continue to have a great time. Two solid hours of the best in Irish music. Come on. Be there.
Ta!
