Customer Reviews

1891-1945

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If you really want to get down to the nuts & bolts of what traditional Irish music is - this album is a must have. While it isn't an audiophiles dream, it is one of the most exciting recordings a fan of Irish fiddle could hope for. Some tracks are marred by insensitive studio piano players who cared little for Irish music, others are backed up well. Although these tracks have been picked over for scratches & pops, many tracks are still scratchy & fuzzy. All this aside, the fiddle playing is brilliant & his music is a perfect example of the Sligo style. This album also includes the most informative liner notes I've ever seen, I would pay the price of the CD for the booklet alone.

Michael Coleman's influence on the world of traditional Irish music was, and still is, enormous. His albums came out just as music was finally made portable, and were incredibly popular in Ireland. Each village would have perhaps one phonograph, at which everyone in the town would gather when a new Coleman record was released.

And don't think that this music is dated, despite the fact that it will be a century old before long. The tone of Coleman's fiddle is something that's never been duplicated. His playing so fiery, so perfect. He was truly a master of his instrument. Any fan of the traditional music should own this CD.