Hugh & Colm Healy: Macalla na hOige

HUGH & COLM HEALY: MACALLA NA hOIGE

Hugh Healy: concertina

Colm Healy: B/C accordion

Eric Healy: fiddle

Noel O'Donoghue: flute

Michael O'Connell: uilleann pipes

Karol Lynch: banjo

Fergal Scahill: guitar, bodhran

Paul O'Driscoll: double bass

From the first few notes of this album, which may remind you at times of another great concertina and accordion duet recording by Noel Hill and Tony MacMahon, you know you're in for a treat. The Healy brothers, from Corofin, Co. Clare, are young players of great talent, technically assured, at times brilliant (listen to Hugh's thrilling performance of "The Independence Hornpipe"), tasteful in their choice of material and their settings, and playing with a wonderful balance of drive and flow. Guest musicians, who include Hugh and Colm's brother Eric on fiddle and Doolin session stalwart Noel O'Donoghue on flute, bring added expertise and variety to the sound. Accompaniments by Scahill are well crafted, while the use of the double bass gives an occasional Lunasa feel to the texture. Lovely music, great energy.

Rating: ****

Price: $24.99