The Bumblebees: (Beehive Records)

This notable girl band's publicity pics portray them at all times in toothy mid-guffaw, and although life can't be that good, there is a good-humoured kick off their light instrumental mix: Collette O'Leary's piano accordion rinsing through tunes; Laoise Kelly's scampish, wildly agile harp; the upbeat stabs of Mary Shannon's banjos and mandolins; and rawest of all, the ould fiddle scratch of Liz Doherty, who provides most of the Cape Breton and French Canadian flavours. The banjo and harp work nicely together, and Union Street, the fiddle unison of De Saint Paul A Terrebonne and an inventively arranged Danish tune, Den Vindskaeve, are most effective. Otherwise, the mix sort of dithers along, more a gossamery lullaby of sound that any punch-packing steam-engine of beat.

By Mic Moroney

Rattle the Boards: Rattle the Boards (Independent)

This Clonmel-based trio have a homey, back-snug session feel, but tune into Pat Ryan's banjo and Benny MacCarthy's melodion/accordion. Ryan is also a seriously infectious, old-style fiddler, while McCarthy's boxplaying has a lyrical mischief borrowed from Paddy O'Brien, Joe Cooley, or in the land of the living, Bobby Gardiner and even, polka-wise, Seamus Begley. John Nugent lifts it all with nimble guitar work, while guest Martha Breadmore sings a Nanci Griffith song, and a traditional one she picked up from early Mary Black. She should really have been left to finish this as she began it - unaccompanied - but the session is where this outfit's life is, playing tunes familiar in many parishes, but with a bit of a fire lit under them.

By Mic Moroney