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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is the way to hear Irish traditional music, August 29, 2000
This review is from: Music at Matt Molloy's (Audio CD)
Live and alive, this is an excellently done CD with superb sound/recording quality, catching the musicians in their joy at what they love to do and do well. Fiddler Cora Smyth has gone on since this recording to become one of the two main fiddlers in the production Lord of the Dance. Matt is excellent, as always, on his flute, with his friends backing him. Some of his friends have the spotlight. The rendition of "Kilkelly" is not to be missed. It is emotionally well-done and moving. You can hear the pub conversation as a back-drop, with the clinking of glasses and the warmth of laughter. You hear the musicians and patrons enjoying eachother's company. It is LIVE, it is Ireland, it is what the Irish traditional session is all about, and I wish more recordings like this one were made available. It's the next best thing to actually being there! If you love Irish traditional music, and Matt Molloy's style, this CD will NOT disappoint you. It is worth buying. It lives in my CD player.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Almost as good as being there, May 21, 1998
This review is from: Music at Matt Molloy's (Audio CD)
If you can't make it to Westport, County Mayo, to spend an evening at Matt Molloy's pub, this is the next best thing. A thoroughly high-caliber group of musicians contributed to this album in a variety of styles, from traditional unaccompanied "sean-nos" singing to "everyone on board" instrumentals. The recordings are live and unedited (amazingly enough, given the quality of the performances), and the pub atmosphere is imparted by background conversations, clinking bottles, and even a broken glass. Part of the flavor of traditional Irish music is the interaction between the musicians, the tunes, and the audience, and this recording conveys that better than anything else I've ever heard. I could have done without the Westport step-dancers thumping their way through the final track, but Iarla o Lionard's solo is a knockout. Almost as much fun as being there -- and your clothes don't reek of the smoke afterwards.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
pure drop, November 18, 2005
This review is from: Music at Matt Molloy's (Audio CD)
This is a wonderful collection of traditional tunes and songs recorded live in Matt Molloy's pub. I know that some find the background noise and occasional stomping distracting, but I love the authenticity of it and it takes nothing away from the music in my opinion. There are a lot of standard session tunes, played with plenty of feeling. I've never heard a more inspiring version of Miss Monaghan or Queen of the May than on this recording. There are also some more obscure but excellent tunes such as the "set of jigs learned from Kevin's father." I highly recommend this CD to anyone who appreciates genuine traditional Irish music...you will not be disappointed.
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