Séamus Begley & Oisín Mac Diarmada

Together/Le ChéileMusical Ireland ***

Like a greyhound out of the traps, Séamus Begley launches headlong into a pair of opening slides on Le Chéile/Together, his first collaboration with Téada fiddler Oisín MacDiarmada (below), as if his life depended on it. Mercifully, he's becalmed by a tasty tune selection and by MacDiarmada's mischievous but solicitous fiddle lines. The real standouts on this album are MacDiarmada's fiddle solo on the reel set, King of the Clans, and the debut of Begley's daughter Méabh on backing vocals. Her feather- light accompaniment is sublime, particularly on An tSeanbhean Bhocht and Eibhlín A Rún, and their familial harmonies on the latter meld beautifully with the song's 17th- century provenance. With its intimate song selections, this collection rewards repeated listening. Rough around the edges and laden with levity, Begley and MacDiarmada make intriguing dance partners. musicalireland.ie