Customer Reviews

At the End of the Day

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This is tradional Irish music at it finest. Dervish, a Mayo (west coast of Ireland) band have a fine selection of tunes here, excellently performed. The female vocalist is superb. Some of the songs are in Irish, with a strong west coast accent. Most of the others are in English.

This is simple one of the best Irish music CD's I have ever heard.

Dervish has an amazing combination of great talent and a fresh sound. They play traditional Irish music without the typical cheesy sound like you would get on "50 Irish Classics." Cathy Jordan's voice is gorgeous, and joined with five more very talented instrumentalists they make a great group. I have a few of their CD's; this is my favorite. There are slow, melodic tunes that allow Jordan's voice to really shine and fast-tempo reels that make me get up and practice my step-dancing! It's a great album, and they're the best Irish group I've found. I searched all over Ireland when I lived there last year and Dervish is definitely the best Irish Traditional Music from here to Kilkenny.

This album is another feather in the cap for one of the most exciting traditional groups to come out of Ireland. If you enjoy the whole genre (Bothy Band, Altan, etc.), then this album will not disappoint. In fact, *all* of the Dervish albums are strong, so you should collect all of the ones listed here in Amazon.com. For real fans, also grab their double live album "Live in Palma" which includes all those jaunty little song intros by Cathy Jordan (which are indexed, so you can skip them if you like). If you can, also get Dervish's latest studio album, "Midsummer's Night" which continues the group's powerful performance style. It *should* be available here -- Amazon.com, are you listening?

"At the End of the Day" - Dervish - Whirling Records

Irish traditional music can abound in cliches - mawkish melancholy; repetitious unison playing; stage-Irish accents and all that "ar-diddle-diddle" stuff.

Then again Irish music can sound like Dervish. This young six-piece group recently produced its fourth album of traditional music. It is superb - almost totally devoid of cliche.

What lifts Dervish above the pack isn't immediately clear. They play all the sorts of tunes, sing all the types of songs that the average Paddies do. But after a couple of listens it's clear, for a start, that each individual is brilliant at what he or she does. From fiddle to accordion; whistle to guitar; bouzouki to bodhran, each instrumentalist is full of confidence and finesse. The wonderful voice of Cathy Jordan too is an ornament.

But the chief genius of the group is the light and shade they give to arrangements. Their sense of the dynamic of a tune or the emotional scope of a song comes through in their arrangements. Neither are they afraid to stretch the boundaries of the tradition. A slow Swedish instrumental ("Josefin's Waltz") - in which they are joined by Swedish group Vasen - is one of the album highlights.

The total sound of this album is so fresh, so together, that Dervish stands head and shoulders above most. Irish music fans should crawl over broken glass to get this great album!

This band is simply one of Ireland's best...it keeps Irish musical traditions fresh without the techno-hype. Cathy Jordan has a splendid voice. I first heard them giving a free promotional concert at Celtic Note in Dublin, and bought the CD on the spot. They've been featured on "Prairie Home Companion", and I think on "Thistle and Shamrock." I keep hoping to see them again on a US tour. On this album, particulary poignant cuts: "Josefin's Waltz", "I Courted A Wee Girl", and especially "Lone Shanakyle". An excellent CD.

All of Dervish's albums are outstanding, but this one is my favorite. They've been compared to the Bothy Band, but to me they sound more like Planxty with a female lead singer. Buy one of their CDs, and you'll end up buying them all.

The intimate sound and incredible vocals combine to make this CD a standout in a quickly growing segment of the music industry.

Listening to this music will bring you right back to a pub in Ireland. Wonderful traditional music.

Dervish is a great Irish traditional band. Hearing this cd is the same of travelling through the Ireland without leaving your home. Play this cd, close your eyes, and you'll "see" all the green fields, friendly people, and of course, a pint of the marvellous Irish Stout too! If you love Irish music, you must buy this cd!