Apart from the likes of Seamus Begley and Maighread ni Dhomhnaill, there are some great touches of Buntus blas in this entertaining compilation of singers lurching back into their native tongue. Most tracks are newly released, many from Sult sessions, while others are cherry-picked from elsewhere. Thus, lifted from Blackwater, Altan's catchy harmonised Molly na gCuach ni Chuilleanain
sees them going the way of Lunny/ early Clannad, while Van Morrison grumps through a yowling come-all-ye with the Chieftains on Ta mo Cleamhnas Deanta/My Match is Made. One of the strongest tracks sees Mary Black dueting with Seamus Begley on the lovely old Ar Bhruach na Carraige Baine, a song Begley has been living in for the last half-century, Sinead Lohan chips in with a lippy Eist do Bheal, while Maire Breathnach joins with Brian Kennedy's ladylike falsetto for a sensitive Eist, a Stor. Maura O'Connell delivers a crass Eurovision-style Aisling Ghear but Frances Black does herself proud with a tiny mouse whisper on Jimmy Mo Mhile Stor.
It's interesting to see these folkies return to their musical roots particularly Paul Brady's raw, wailing energy on Gleanntain Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair or Christy Moore basting Na Conghailigh with a bit of rough-hewn majesty. The biggest chuckle is Kate Bush's Darby O'Gill-accented Mna na hEireann, histrionically dragging swathes of O Riada orchestration along behind her, but with a whipping knife edge of emotion which makes it all worthwhile. Quality muzak, what more can I say?
