Customer Reviews

First 10 Years: 1986-95

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From the beginning, Altan was characterized by its passionate, full-blooded performances of traditional tunes, and of recent compositions in the traditional manner. Although their personnel varied and they went through several producers, their albums are consistently listenable and of high quality. With the 1994 death of Frankie Kennedy, who co-founded the band with his wife Maire ni Mhaonaigh, the band lost one of its anchors. Although they've rebounded and done some excellent work since then, their sound is different without Kennedy's delicate and thoughtful flute playing.
This CD presents highlights from the five albums the band made before Kennedy's death. The selection is uniformly excellent and showcases the band's range, from wild jigs and reels to the almost corny "Tommy Bhetty's Waltz," the humorous "Donal agus Morag," and the distinctive "Mazurka." The vocals are lovely, and the two solo flute selections are beautifully done. And the final track is heartbreaking: by the time it was recorded, Kennedy was struggling with cancer, and his consciousness of his own mortality gives his performance a profound sadness that almost brought me to tears the first time I heard it. If you already have Altan's first five albums, there are no surprises here, but if you aren't familiar with their work this is a great place to start.

Wonderful tight playing, phrasing, excellent renditions of some real Irish classics in terms of jigs and reels, this is an excellent collection of Altan's best recordings from over a decade. It is rare to find such a combination of talented Celtic musicians in one band all able to work together to make such an incredible body of work over the years. Go raibh maith agat! Maith libhsa! And long may the music continue.

Very great CD filled with their early music - highly recommended for Irish/Gaelic/Celtic music fans

I have been delving into Irish music quite a bit, and Altan is one of the best groups around. Some of the songs are instrumental (like the foot tapping "Andy De Jarlis/Ingonish/Mrs. McGhee" and the opening "Pretty Peg/New Ships A-Sailing/The Bird's Nest/The Man From Bundoran," and some are sung by women (like the achingly beautiful "Ceol A'Phiobaire" and the infectious celtic pop "Donal Agus Morag," which will make you want to sing along even when you don't know the language.

This is beautiful celtic music, good for background music or for playing in your store, or in the office, or for humming along in the car.

Being so young, people wouldn't expect me to have an opinion pertainable to their "superior" thoughts. But I do appreciate good music, and Altan is actually pretty good. I love Celtic music, as I just prefected my Irish Gaelic, it is a joy to be able to understand thelyrics they use. Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill's voice is captivating and you will find yourself sometimes trying to snap out of the trance-like state you are put into. Among my favorite songs on this CD, Donal Agus Morag is interestingly beautiful. The soprano's voice is truly hypnotic at times. This isn't my favorite CD, some of the others were much better done. Dulaman or Tuirse Mo Chroi would have given this CD a much better rating, but who's complaining........