Going PlacesCladdagh ***

There's an architectural quality to Máirtiín O'Connor's accordion playing that imposes the most fluid struts and colonnadesupon his adventurous original compositions, and fires fresh life into tunes drawn from as far back as the 17th century. The trio of box, fiddle and guitar shimmy through the heart of Indifference, a magnificent muzette waltz by the Italian accordionist Tony Murena, and Cathal Hayden's fiddle playing is sensitive to the nuances of a slow air, The Mountains of Pomeroy. But the collection falters on the disappointing song selections, which lack the verve of the tunes. Tommy Emmanuel guests on a jaded reading of The Water Is Wide, while Seamie O'Dowd's vocals and guitar unnecessarily dominate Rocket to the Moon, with inventive box and fiddle lost in the mix. Moments of sheer brilliance (as on The Drogheda Jig) are overshadowed by hackneyed song choices and arrangements. mairtinoconnorband.com

Download tracks:Indifference, The Mountains of Pomeroy