Various Artists: Siol/Seed Artists Supporting Freedom of Biodiversity (Agherbaun Records)
Some music on this compilation is nearly as worthy as the body behind it, the Irish Seed Saver's Association (run by Anita Hayes, wife of percussionist, Tommy), which is battling to preserve native varieties in the face of despicable agri-business practice and GM "terminator" technology. Hayes thumpets up a surprisingly old-style Martin Hayes (no relation); Cormac Breathnach's life-affirming whistling with Steve Cooney; the sweet, stout purity of Karan Casey's voice; the utter bloody majesty of Andy Irvine's The Monument; some sublime nose-flutes from Ronan Browne; Mairtin O'Connor enjoying himself; even Nigel Rolfe on an old Coil/Genesis P. Orridge frequency. This is certainly no barren ground.
- Mic Moroney
Iarla O Lionaird: I Could Read the Sky (RealWorld)
Spreading his wing over many's a grey tide, this po-mo seannoser has composed, sung and produced some seriously weird magic for the movie of Tim O'Grady's excavation of historical Irish navvies in the UK ("No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs"). There are duff moments (The King) but more soaring highs: Urnai, or the spooked resetting of Taim Sinte ar Do Thuama over the multi-layered soundscape - texturing which is mercifully broken for Noel Hill and Martin Hayes. Sinead O'Connor makes goose-bumps of Singing Bird - but hark Ri-Ra's cautionary, marinated Knuckles to the Marrow. He adds vicious thump to O Lionaird's profound spacecake strategies.
- Mic Moroney
