Cran: Lover's Ghost (Rose Records)
Whether it's a case of pitching at a softer, larger market, or just growing maturity, the edges are smoothing off this alliance of doughty men: Drogheda singer and bouzouki man Sean Corcoran; Belfast-born fluter/whistler Desi Wilkinson and Wicklow-based piper, Ronan Browne. With Kevin Glackin and Triona Ni Dhomnaill guesting, they get a bit of barp and tear into Micho Russell's jigs, and the Donegal highlands and reels; other arrangements are more directionless, with Browne lobbing in some mind-bending, overkill glissando on one air. Corcoran excavates song traditions for primordial, manly harmonies on Stolen Bride, the ploughing song, Ho Bo, or the Scots Gaelic of Mo Ghille Dubh-dhonn. It's never dull, but this album doesn't have quite the kick-spark of earlier recordings.
- Mic Moroney
Providence: Providence (Rolling River Productions)
For all the fine ingredients, I can't get terribly worked up about this largely down-tempo session ensemble of Belfast woman Meabh O'Hare's sensitive fiddle, John Wynne's marbly North Connacht flutes/ whistles, and the fairly smartish concertina and accordion box of Micheal O Raghallaigh; all over Paul Doyle's strolling-bassy bouzouki/guitars. Songs come in the high, penetrating warble and lilt of Joan McDermott's vocals: an odd setting of Seven Gypsies, an almost hesitant, but affecting Ochon, Ochon, Mo Chailin - songs in sometimes dirgey arrangements. But if the songs are low-key by nature, the dance sessions, despite the broad colour and ragged coherence, could definitely do with a bit of a cattleprod.
- Mic Moroney