Customer Reviews

Many Happy Returns

5 star:		(4)
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Failte! (Greetings!) A case needs to be made about absolutely excellent traditional Irish groups and CD's not having the US exposure needed to receive the full credit that is deserved. Ireland is a country full of "undiscovered" talent outside of Ireland. This CD is a real gem. If I had 6 stars, I would give this CD this rating with no hesitation. I own or have listened to hundreds of traditional Irish Music CD's, and this rating comes with full exposure to what is available. The first thing that strikes me about this album is the music is familiar, such as "Sally Gardens," but arrangements are unique and excitingly different. Notice of this is served in their first track, the Sally Gardens set. Niamh Parson's golden voice takes over on the second set "The Boys of Barr na Sraide." The whole of the album is a back and forth, between toe tappin reels and jigs, to cry in your stout time with Niamh's haunting voice. The routine is broken up once by group harmony on the "Rambling Irishman." No instruments, and this is very difficult to do without embarassing yourself with mistakes instruments usually cover up. What can I say about the awesome bodhran playing of legendary Johnny McDonagh? He once heard a bad bodhran player as a kid ( a method I use myself to encourage others). He was determined he could do better, and at the same moment met a man selling a bodhran with tipper for 10 schillings. Do you like the backslide technique? Johnny pioneered the technique. Do you like playing on the rim? Johnny pioneered the technique. For the best appreciation of his playing, you need a stereo with a good bass to catch the deep voice of his drum. Sounds like a Brendan White double skin drum. We have Johnny dubbed over Johnny for bodhran and (real) bones together. He is using real bones gripped at the sweet spot for a deeper ceramic sound. Beat by beat, they are played in synch to the music with pauses to accent. The fiddle and button accordian playing in this album are also exceptional. As a group, this incarnation of Arcady has immense talent. I just hope they can all be reassembled for a future album. If someone wants to produce the album, I'll cover the Stout tab! If you pride yourself on your Celtic Collection, this is a "must have." Ceol de Erin go bragh! (Music of Ireland forever!).

Arcady play a lovely selection of tunes on this CD and the singing of Niamh Parsons is just beautiful. She does a superb job of The Boys of Barr na Sráide, the best I have ever heard. And that is saying something - because Christy Moore did a great version of it in a live album with Jimmy Faulker many years back. I particularly liked the fine piano playing of Patsy Broderick, who should indeed make a solo recording as she is a powerful musician! I would certainly recommend this album to lovers of fine Irish music and singing.

Arcady has all the elements of true irish folk. the reels naturally make you want to dance. My favorite song is The Banks of the Lee sung by Niamh Parsons. It is hauntingly beautiful.

I play traditional Irish music (tin whistle), so I have quite a large number of CDs in this genre. This CD is my absolute favorite. The musicianship is outstanding, and the selections are appealing. If you could only own one CD of traditional Irish music, I would recommend this one as the one to get.