Ciaran O'Maonaigh & Aidan O'Donnell: Fidil

CIARAN O'MAONAIGH & AIDAN O'DONNELL: FIDIL

Ciaran O'Maonaigh: fiddle

Aidan O'Donnell: fiddle

A nephew of Altan's celebrated fiddle player and lead singer Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh, Ciaran O'Maonaigh is a brilliant fiddle player in the Donegal style who released a remarkable solo CD a few years ago. Here, he has paired up with an equally impressive player, Aidan O'Donnell, to create a album of the most intense, edgy, hard-driving unaccompanied fiddle music one is likely to hear anywhere--so much so it might need a warning label! The two players are not content to play in unison, but rather are not afraid to make their own individual statements with each tune, which sometimes creates the kind of semi-chaotic heterophony session goers are familiar with. But the two also exploit other possibilities of duet playing, from the playing in octaves ("reversing") which is a common feature of Donegal music, to actually using one of the fiddles in more of an accompaniment role (for instance on the beautiful highland "An Mhallaidh Gharbh"), all to great effect. It's all very well played, but rather than polish and sophistication, of which there is plenty, the overall impression on the listener will be one of wild abandon and aching intensity. O'Maonaigh's gorgeous rendition of the famous air "Port na bPucai" brings much needed relief indeed before the two conclude with the album with another iconic tune of the Donegal repertoire, "The Glen Road to Carrick." This is simply a must for fans of Donegal fiddle music.

Rating: ****

Price: $21.99