With a group comprising
Joanie Madden, Brian Conway,
Billy McComiskey, and Felix Dolan, you certainly have one of the classiest Irish ceildih bands around, and they prove their qualities on this CD. The sets slide by as smooth as cream, mostly uptempo, but still with room for a couple of slower changeups, like the filigreed delicacy of "Sean McGlynn's Waltz" or "Slan Le Maigh," where
Madden's flute carries the haunting air. Inevitably, everything's wonderfully played, and it's hard to resist the temptation to call a few friends and tell them to bring over their dancing shoes. These are some of the best Irish-American instrumentalists around, and they reach back to the old country for the tunes, bringing them alive with real zest and spirit -- you'll be hard-pressed to find something better than this. ~ Chris Nickson