Carl Hession's classical arrangements of beloved Irish airs and dances are not for the traditionalist. While the required uilleann pipes and bodhran add the essential Celtic flavor to "My Lagan Love" and "Morgan Magan," these tracks seem tailor-made for a film soundtrack, not some smoky pub. While there is certainly nothing wrong with the arrangements,
Hession's broad orchestral brush strokes overwhelm the delicate simplicity of the material. These are tunes that were written for a small band gathered around a peat fire, not a full string section. The added pomp blows the life out of them. ~ Tim Sheridan