Vincent Campbell

The Purple Heather, Cairdeas na bhFidiéirí ****

If there are pots of gold to be found lurking at the end of any rainbows, then surely this double CD will feature among their most prized contents.

Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí's latest inspired collection features the revered fiddler Vincent Campbell, who is a treasure trove of eclectic traditional music and a font of stories associated with particular tunes. The Purple Heatherwas recorded over a gargantuan 47-year period, and the agility of Campbell's playing style and the boldness of his flourishes are simply unparalleled.

This is particularly evident on the aptly titled The Fantastic Reel, where his "floating bow" style transforms the shape and substance of the tune with equal parts grace and danger. The inclusion of accompanying stories (in Irish and English) on the second CD adds further enchanting nuances to a technicolour collection, delivered by a modest but magical musician. www.donegalfiddlemusic.ie