Dervish's wide appeal may have something to do with its versatility. It would be easy for a listener of Spirit to drop in on several of the band's fine jigs or reels -- like "John Blessings" and "Siesta Set" -- and gain the impression that
Dervish makes its living as an instrumental powerhouse. At the same time, the listener could drop in on
Cathy Jordan's lovely renditions of "The Fair Haired Boy" and "The Soldier Laddie" and gain the impression that the band specializes in interpreting Celtic ballads. Only by sitting down and listening to the entire album would one realize that both impressions are correct, and that
Dervish's eclecticism comes from the ability of individuals to harness their talents toward a larger purpose. With six members -- Brian McDonagh, Tom Morrow, Liam Kelly, Séamus O'Dowd, Shane Mitchell, Michael Holmes, and
Jordan -- the instrumental mix of flutes, mandocello, accordion, bones, fiddle, and mandolin allows for intriguing arrangements on pieces like "O'Raghailligh's Grave" and "Swallows Tail." Even the oft-recorded
Dylan song "Boots of Spanish Leather" receives a nice facelift here, with an emotive reading from
Jordan. At 72 minutes, Spirit is a generous disc that attests to
Dervish's continual commitment to placing their lively spin on traditional-based Irish music. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.