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With the sort of track record these musicians have it's no wonder that this recording is just a little bit special. It shouldn't work - Irish songs and dance tunes alongside Appalachian traditional, not to mention music from Hungary and Eastern Europe - but it does. Why? Because this is music not only played with awesome skill and intelligence but also played from the heart and with total commitment. A prime example is "Reuben's Train" where Bruce Molsky leads the band in what starts out as a classic piece of old time music and switches effortlessly to frenetic Balkan tinged dances throughout. Nothing sounds artificial or "tacked on"; it all works beautifully. There are also some great songs from the mastermind behind the group, Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny gets his first vocal outing (in Gaelic) since the second Planxty album! Nicola Parov adds all sorts of exotic colours including some haunting nickelharp and Rens Van Der Zalm fills any gaps left with amazing dexterity on a number of instruments. Oh and if that's not enough Liam O'Flynn guests on a couple of tracks!
Track listing:
1. O'Donoghue's
2. Sail Away Ladies/Walking In The Parlor
3. Wind Blows Over The Danube
4. Reuben's Train
5. Daichevo/Humours Of Parov
6. Ballad Of Rennardine/Johhny Cuig
7. Mary Mhaggie/Siun Ni Dhuibhir
8. TRain On The Island/Big Hoedown
9. Pigfarm Suite
10. Carrowclare
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