Updated: Febrnuary 18, 2008

Molly's Revenge - Live at the Espresso Garden (2003) Recorded live on Friday June 13th 2003 at Judy Hackett's Espresso Garden and Café in San Jose. The CD contains a mixture of tunes and songs including new material and some previously unrecorded material (but with a different instrumental lineup now - notably fiddle and uilleann pipes). , and just because we damn well like them! We've also included a couple of video clips that will play on your Mac or PC. Just put the CD into your computer's CD drive and follow the on-screen instructions.

All of the tracks on this CD were recorded that night with the exception of a very special set of tunes we recorded with the MacTarnahan's Prince Charles Pipe Band. They are one of a handful of Grade 1 pipe bands in the USA, and were also the world champions at the Grade II level in 2001, so it has been a great privilege for us to be associated with them. The set of tunes we play with them is part of one of their competition medleys and was recorded at Santa Catalina School in Monterey, CA on Saturday June 28th 2003.

We hope you enjoy the tunes on this CD. You'll hear some missed notes, chords, and technical glitches (which we'll blame on Friday 13th !), but we think it captures the atmosphere of what was, for us, a very special evening.

Karan Casey - Chasing The Sun (Shanachie 2005)  This album features a significant number of  songs Karan wrote. Recorded at her home in Co. Cork and produced by herself and partner Niall Vallely, the album largely features her touring band of Robbie Overson, Paul Meehan and Niall Vallely along with Ewen Vernal, John Anthony, Michael Aharon and Erik Johnson.I have been a sucker for Karan's voice and singing since I first heard her with SOLAS, and have not missed any opportunity to hear her since. As usual, I think Karan's singing is at her most powerful in her edgier, political anthems. I particularly like her song "When Will All Be Free?"  Other songs of particularly Robert Burns' "Lady Mary Anne" and  Robbie O'Connell's  rueful "The Keg of  Brandy". (Recommended)

bohola - bohola  (2002 Shanachie w/ sound samples). This Chicago-based band consists on this CD of Jimmy Keane on piano accordion, Sean Cleland on fiddle, viola and baritone fiddle, and Pat Broaders on dordan, bouzouki and vocals. (Since the CD, singer/guitarist Kat Eggleston has been a welcome addition to the band.) The band describes itself as playing "a driving, muscular, and yet emotive style of Irish music with deep roots in the 'pure drop' tradition, melded with the raw and gritty urbanized musical vernacular of the Irish-American experience." I don't know about that, but I did see bohola twice in Cape Breton recently at Celtic Colours, and they blew the audience away (in the positive sense!) both times. The drive of their music, particularly Jimmy Keane's phenomenal accordian playing, is mesmerizing, comparable to Martin Hayes/Dennis Cahill in full flight. Pat Broaders singing complements the instrumentals well, and gives us a chance to catch our breathe. The CD is only slightly more subdued than their live performance, but still very clearly shows the excitement this group can generate. 65 minutes of great music. (Very highly recommended)

Joe Peter MacLean - Back of Boisdale  (Rounder Records 2005).  Congratulations to Rounder for continuing their superb North American Tradition series. Those looking "The Pure Drop" authentic Gaelic style fiddling from way down the dirt road, not created by a focus group, this CD is for you. MacLean's playing is very heavily influeced by Gaelic, his first language, and fully reflects the different modes one hears in old traditional fiddling, starting out with some tunes that may sound quite sour or out of tune to those used to the more symphonic sound of fiddlers like Alasdair Fraser or even Natalie MacMaster. Cape Breton music is mainly about dancing, and as the CD progresses (all 76 minutes of it!), MacLean shows that he has plenty of drive and lift in his playing. By the end, you'll probably be up and stepping around the room. He is ably assisted on this CD by Janet Cameron on piano, Paul Wukitsch on fiddle, and Gordon MacLean on piano and parlor organ. In his excellent liner notes (included as a pdf file with the album or downloadable here (along with sample),  Mark Wilson writes: " [MacLean's fiddlint  differs somewhat from the more frequently recorded Inverness County styles from the other side of the island...[and also is notable for] the unusual groups of tunes that he learned from his father, Charlie. These provide an interesting glimpse, I believe, of a traditional fiddler’s repertory before the island-wide readjustments and standardization that occurred in the post-World War II period. (Highly recommended)

Howie MacDonald, Dave MacIsaac & Mac Morin - Live! West Mabou Hall (self-published 2005) Cape Breton music is overwhelmingly music for public dances. So why, you may ask, are so many CDs studio productions? If it is the dancers that give the musicians energy and keep them honest on the tempo, why are live recordings so rare?  Good question, and this CD shows that live recordings can sound great. All you folks looking for authenticity, you are not going to find a CD that is more authentic than this. Howie, Dave, and Mac are three of favorite musicians among dancers in Cape Breton--who have an embarassing richness of great musicians to choose from. The West Mabou Hall is an intimate little community hall in the heart of Inverness County, and is a favorite among the dancers. So, when these three musicians record a CD before a live, dancing crowd on Easter weekend 2004 (with lovely recording quality), good things are going to happen, and the boys don't disappoint. If you wonder why Cape Breton was able to keep its traditional musc thriving when it was dying out in other celtic areas, all you have to do is listen to the fun and energy in this performance and it is all explained. More than 62 minutes of music. Liner notes that give all the tunes and photos of the folks dancing. What are you waiting for? Order the CD and get your dancing shoes ready. (Very highly recommended)

Celtic Colours - X  (Odyssey Records 2006)  On  the Celtic Colours International Festival's 10th anniversary  the festival decided to celebrate some of the great moments that had occured at the festival.  Whereas the previous Celtic Colours festival CDs had been single CDs of tracks taken from that year's artists' existing CDs, for this year, they decided to issue a double CD composed entirely of live tracks recorded at the festival over the years -- 31 tracks, 134 minutes of live music! The selection of artists on this CD is a who's who of the great ones who have performed at the festival. From Ireland: Sharon Shannon, The Black Family, Liz Doherty, Altan, and Eleanor Shanley; from Scotland: Dougie MacLean, Mairi MaInnes & Karine Polwart, Archie Fisher, Capercaillie, Blazin' Fiddles, Phil Cunningham, Shine, Dòchas, Ishbel MacAskill, and Anna Massie; and then the home team from Cape Breton: The Barra MacNeils, Carl MacKenzie, Beolach, Howie MacDonald, Brenda Stubbert, Troy MacGillivray, The Beaton Family, Doug MacPhee, Kimberley Fraser, David Greenberg, John Allan Cameron, Rita MacNeil and Mary Jane Lamond. Obviously they did not capture all the great moments that have occurred at this festival, and one could come with a list almost as long of artists who did not make it onto these CDs. There is some great stuff on this CD that will appeal to many different tastes. But that's the glory of this music and this festival -- there is an embarassment of musical riches in Cape Breton that causes me and so many others to keep going back. The CD contains excellent liner notes about each artist and set of tunes.  A fine introduction to the variety and quality of the music at this festival for those thinking of attending and great memories for those who were there at some of  these concerts. (Recommended)

Failte - A Cape Breton  Welcome (Celtic Music Interpretive Centre)   Cape Breton is famous for its hospitality, and this is a musical welcome that has you up and dancing, or at least tapping your foot before you know what hit you. And we did tell you that stamina was important...this is 72 minutes of highly energetic music. The CD was produced as a fundraiser for the new Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique, and the local musicians from up and down Route 19 contributed one of the tracks from their own CDs. Lets see, thats 18 world class musicians (+ accompanists). The CD is heavily biased toward fiddle music (14 fiddle tracks, 2 piano, 1 song), 1 bagpipes), and slightly biased toward younger players you might not have heard, but totally deserve to be on this all-star lineup. The cast includes: Buddy MacMaster,  Ian MacDougall, Glenn Graham, Mac Morin,  Robbie & Isaac Fraser,  Natalie MacMaster,   Karen Beaton,   Ryan J. MacNeil,   Troy MacGillivray, Jackie Dunn, Andrea Beaton, Raylene Rankin,  Kinnon Beaton, Rodney MacDonald,  Howie MacDonald,  Mairi Rankin, Shelly Campbell, and Wendy MacIsaac. The only reason this was not an essential purchase for me was that I already bought all the CDs these tracks were taken from! Be forewarned, that after you get a sample of their playing, there is a high chance that you may be buying a whole lot more Cape Breton CDs in the near future. Hey, this is great stuff, and supports a worthy cause. A superb introduction to the music of Cape Breton. (Very highly recommended )

Ryan J. MacNeil - Piper (self-published 2005). Its been awhile (too long!) since I've gotten a new CD of Cape Breton piping. But the wait is over, and Ryan's does not dissapoint. You may know Ryan as the piper from the group Beolach. Here, his superb playing on  border pipes and on various whistles (that he also designed and makes) is out front in a way not possible in Beolach, and you are in for a great treat. Ryan's playing is superb. No surprise there. What I particularly enjoyed is the wonderful variety of the pieces on this CD. There is a lovely song from sister (?) Katriona MacNeil, and several rousing live recording with folks whooping in the background, a set of waltzes, a lovely guitar duet from Paddy Gillis and Sheamus MacNeil,  and some blistering reels. Ryan is very able accompanied by Wendy MacIsaac on piano, Gordie Sampson and Fred Lavery. (Very highly recommended)

Mary Jane Lamond - Stòras (Turetlemusik 2005)  "Stòras" means "jewel" in Gaelic. And Mary Jane has delivered yet another jewel. Not only is her voice in fine form, but she continues to bring her genius for arrangements to these songs. The album has a lovely mix of differing tempos, solo and group singing, working songs, upbeat contemporary arrangements, and fun mouth music expertly done. The result are songs that draw one in and haunt you, regardless of any language  barrier. As usual, Mary Jane includes extensive liner notes that include the lyrics (in Gaelic) and history of the songs. I loaned this CD to a friend who likes Gaelic singing, and was able to get it back by buying them their own copy.  (Highly recommended)

Ian MacDougall (and Mac Morin) - Before You Arrived. (self-published 2006).  This CD was recorded in the West Mabou Hall, a cozy little community hall in Cape Breton legendary for the quality of the dances held there. It is as if the two musicians are warming up before the dance, Ian on fiddle and Mac on piano. It's also if you were a jockey on a very, very strong and eager thoroughbred, trying to hold him back before the race starts. These two stellar musicians radiate musical energy, and it is very, very clear that once the doors open, the extremely knowing dance folks of Mabou are going to be in for a barn-burner of a dance that will have everyone totally exhausted by 2:00 am, but no one sitting down before then. Paul Cranford, a noted Cape Breton fiddler and composer writes: "Ian's style is earthy and rooted in tradition.... As a team Ian and Mac are very popular on the Cape Breton square dance circuit. They play lively hard driving tunes, with a waltz for good measure." Boy, is that ever an understatement.  Before You Arrived contrasts with much of the light-weight "celtic" music that one hears as a good pint of Guinness contrasts  to Coors Lite. This is the righteous playing that makes me so love Cape Breton music. (Very highly recommended)

Celtic Colours International Festival - Volume VII (Odyssey Records 2003). This great festival has once again produced a superb and varied CD, 17 tracks, one each for a sampling of the great musicians that played at the festival this year. Included are great tracks from Irish group Lúnasa, the Scottish group Bachué, CB fiddler Brenda Stubbert, Mary Jane Lamond, The McDades, The Kane Sisters, CB pianist Mac Morin, Irish guitarist/singer Doyle, John Campbell and Doug MacPhee, English flute/whistle dominated Flook, celtic Baroque with Ferrintosh, Gaelic singer Donnie Murdo MacLeod, the great Irish group bohola, Wendy MacIsaac, Cajun players Christine Balfa and Dirk Powell, Gaelic singer Mairi MacInnes, and lastly Natalie MacMaster. There is clearly something for everyone to like on this

Feis an Eilein - Còmhla Cruínn - Gathered Together - A Cape Breton Gaelic Celebration (CBC Radio 2002) (sound samples available on the website. This is a collection of 20 tracks, primarily of singing by many different singers, all recorded live at the community hall in Christmas Island, Cape Breton. There is also a track of fiddling and some piping to show the influences of Gaelic on the instrumental playing. The 34 pages of excellent liner notes describe the context of these songs and contain both the Gaelic lyrics and English translations of them. For more detailed reviews of this CD see the website above, or the Gaelic music page on this site. (Essential purchase to understand the Gaelic influence on Cape Breton music.)

Ron Hynes - Ron Hynes  (Borealis Records 2006) It's been three (too long) years since there's been a new album from Canada's best songwriter. I had the enormous pleasure of  hearing Ron live at the 2007 Celtic Colours festival; it was one of the highest highlights of my 10 trips to that fantastic festival.. Ron's songwriting is so fresh, honest, personal, and eloquent, it has enormous emotional impact. Ron combines this with a a lovely voice and an expressive style of singing  that brings tears to my eyes is so beautiful and fitting. Ron's honesty and faithfulness to his own personal experiences and his passion for Newfoundland and working people end up making his songs remarkably universal and almost always compelling.   The record is described as "a collection of soul baring, very personal songs ...this self-titled CD...a combination of  live and studio recordings - features 14 songs born of Ron's own  life experience. Ron delivers songs of tragedy, salvation, struggle, survival, love lost and love found, touching the heart and soul of the  "everyman"".

Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas & Muriel Johnstone - Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle - volume 2: Tunes from the Life & Land of Robert Burns  (Culburnie Records 2004) A belated review of this sequel to Alasdair's acclaimed first volume in this series. On this CD he is accompanied by Natalie Haas on fiddle and Muriel Johnstone on piano. The three play beautifully together. Alasdair has been keen on restoring the cellow to its former place of prominence in Scottish music, and in Natalie Haas he has found just the cellist to showcase this instrument at its best in this music. Muriel Johnstone's piano is also entirely fitting and very well done. I am so used to listening to Cape Breton music that always has a piano, I had to remember this instrument appears far less often in Scottish fiddle music. Alasdair's playing is lovely, as always. This whole album, with its generous 67 minutes of music on it, sounds as if it would be right at home in the fancier parlors or Scottish castles entertaining the nobility of the late 18th century.  The tunes may be similar but the style of playing contrasts dramatically with the more rough-hewn dance music of Cape Breton as can be heard in the recent CDs by Ian MacDougall, Howie MacDonald or Ashley MacIsaac. The response to Legacy is more likely to be enthusiastic polite applause, rather than folks jumping to their feet ans setp dancing up a storm until the whole parish hall is shaking. Alasdair and Natalie are certainly capable of playing rabble-rousing music as can be heard in their 2004 collaboration on Fire & Grace; there is just more grace and less fire on this CD. Each type of music in its place. For friends who are classical music fans, this is album is  good introduction to traditional Scottish music. The liners notss helpfully connect the tunes with the Robert Burns' songs with which Burns penned for them. (Highly recommended)

Fred Morrison with Jamie McMenemy - Up South (KRL Lochshore 2003) A new CD by Scottish piper Fred Morrison is almost an epochal event. Fred has the kind of almost unbelievable talent on pipes that Martin Hayes has on fiddle. And Fred's musical journey keeps getting richer with the most impeccable piping you could ever dream of hearing. Here, Fred not only plays the highland pipes superbly, but also has absolutely stunning sets of tunes on the Irish uillean pipes, the Border pipes and low whistle, accompanied on three tunes by guitarist Tony McManus. The tunes are a varied and beautiful mix of Fred's own compositions, traditional tunes, and a 11 minute piobrach ("The Earl of Seaforth's Salute) to show the range and skill of Fred. Jamie McMenemy provides tasteful and supportive accompaniment on guitar. (Essential purchase!)

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - Fire & Grace (Culburnie or Greentrax) 2004. Alasdair, the remarkable, sweet-sounding, energetic fiddler, has been a proponent of the cello in Scottish music for a long time. In the young, and astoundinglhy talented, Natalie Haas, his vision is validated with a skill and joy that has to be heard to be believed. Anyone who has seen the two perform together at the Sebastopol Celtic Faire will remember those concerts for the rest of their lives. Sometimes Natalie is providing a wonderful rythym like a bass, other times a langurous accompaniment, sometimes a drone, and occassionally takes over the melody entirely. It is a phenomenal performance. We have been waiting for this album for awhile, and it does not disappoint. Just as Tony MacManus brought out the best of Alasdair on their album, Return to Kintail, Natalie's playing has the same effect. Alasdair has never sounded better, and although many of the tunes on this CD are familiar, you will hear them in a new light altogether. And for those looking for a little fire in their Scottish music, the final track will not disappoint; it is a take-no-prisoners charge through The Hut on Staffin Island/The Barrowdown Reel/The High Reel. (Very highly recommended)

Waterson:Carthy -- Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man (Topic 2006).  If you are not familiar with Waterson:Carthy this may be a good place to start. For introduction, they are arguably the finest folk singers in England -- Martin Carthy, his wife Norma Waterson, their daughter Eliza Carthy, and To, vam Eyken. Each is a sensational singer in their own right, and together there is a magic borne of decades singing together. This is by far the most unusual CD on this list. It is a collection of carols and songs for all seasons of the year, although most are related to Christmas and New Years. The only carol that I had heard before is "While Shepherds Watched", but Waterson:Carthy do it in such a strong, a capella version, it was a new experience altogether.  Some of these carols and songs are quite dark and come from Gnostic or gypsy traditions. I have had a very hard time getting this out of my CD player ("I'll just listen to it one more time..."  (Very highly recommended if you are looking for something a little different).