NORTH CREGG: SUMMER AT MY FEET
On this, North Cregg's third album, the tone is set quickly with the opening track, as the band, driven by Christy Leahy's accordion and the great rhythm section of Ciaran Coughlan's French-Canadian and blues inflected piano and Martin Leahy's subtle drumming, romps through a reel from Prince Edward Island with abandon. By contrast, the next instrumental track, a set of Sliabh Luachra polkas, starts with a very traditional sound which would be completely at home at Dan Connell's in Knocknagree. In between, North Cregg's new member, singer Fiona Kelleher, uses her lovely voice to great effect on a convincing rendition of "There was a Maid in Her Father's Garden." Later, she does very well too on a couple of songs penned by Ger Wolf. Like on their previous recording "Mi.Da:Za," the band manages to push the envelope without alienating the traditional music aficionado. It's all very well and seamlessly done, and it really is a lot of fun to listen to.
Rating: *** 1/2
Price: $17.99
Contents:
1. Reel: The Pitchfork Reel
2. Song: There was a Maid in her Father's Garden
3. Polkas: Callaghan's / The Gen Cottage / Is Trua gan Peata an Mhaoir Agam (I Wish I Had a Shepherd's Lamb)
4. Song: The Recruited Collier
5. Slides: The Kishkeam Lasses / Johnny Mick Dinny's / The Glounreagh Slide
6. Hornpipe & Reels: Cooley's Hornpipe / Mairtin O'Connor's Flying Clog / The Lass of Ballintra
7. Song: Summer at my Feet
8. Jigs: Wallop the Spot / Larry's Delight / Buttermilk Mary
9. Song: Swallow Sing
10. Reels: Albert Road / The Master of Ceremonies
11. Song: Deoindi
12. Fred Finn's Polka
