Founding member Trevor Hutchison spent much of 2007 pouring over the band's body of work to select the tracks that best represent not only the energy, drive and fire that Lúnasa is known for, but also the uniqueness of their compositions and arrangement style. Along the way, the band made a side trip to the Compass Sound Studio in Nashville to re-record "Aibreann" and "Morning Nightcap" as a way of illustrating the sound of the current line-up and in the process redefined these band favourites as classics of their repertoire. The end result is a mind-blowing showcase of arguably the greatest instrumental group ever to exist in Irish music. Re-visited and re-mixed, including two new recordings of Lúnasa classics "Aibreann" and "Morning Nightcap". Includes tracks from all three Green Linnet titles and all three Compass titles, including the originally self-released and now classic album Lúnasa. Includes expansive liner notes on the band's history and an extensive photo journal of the past 11 years. Featured are current band members: double bassist Trevor Hutchinson, piper Cillian Vallely, flutist Kevin Crawford, fiddler Sean Smyth, and guitarist Paul Meehan, as well as past members Donogh Hennessy (guitar), Michael McGoldrick (flute) and John McSherry (Uilleann pipes). Tracks: Eanáir: Lord Mayo / Gavotte; Maid Of Mt. Cisco / Feabhra: An Erc'h War an Enezeg (Snow On The Island); Brenda Stubbert's; Thunderhead / Aibreann: The Last Pint (re-recording) / The Miller of Drohan / The Floating Crowbar; McGlinchy's; The Almost Reel / O'Carolan's Welcome; Rolling In The Barrel / Killarney Boys Of Pleasure / Casu: Asturian Air; Aires de Pontevedra; Muineira de Casu / Morning Nightcap: The Wedding Reel; Morning Nightcap; The Malbay Shuffle (re-recording) / Cregg's Pipes: Cregg's Pipes; Uist Reel; John Doherty's / Fest Noz: Ridees 6 temps; Punch: Scottish Concerto Strathspey; Trip To Windsor; Punch In The Dark / The Dimmers: Jerry O'Sullivan's; The Dimmers / Leckan Mor: Kalyana; Above In The Garret; Leckan Mór / The Dingle Berries: The Hop Slide; Padraig O'Keefe's; Nessa The Mover; Trip To Dingle / Across The Black River
P**T
Breathtaking
Lúnasa are surely the greatest exponents of Irish Celtic music at work today. Their instrumental prowess and precision, at times frighteningly fast, at times liltingly beautiful, is showcased through a thoughtfully-chosen array of dazzling arrangements.This compilation is probably not for the diehard fan, because apart from a couple of their tunes being re-recorded, it's all from their previous albums. That said, for anyone who has only heard a small amount of their repertoire, such as myself at the time I bought this, it's an ideal taster. And it can surely only result in buying more of their albums.The standard of playing on this disc is very exacting, and either inspiring or punishing for the aspiring player. Fiddle player Séan Smyth particularly shines, but that does not mean to say that the others are not masters of their chosen instruments. Far from it.The re-recording of 'Morning Nightcap' is fresh and crisp, and does not do the original recording any disservice. It's also a splendid way to start the album - to put a stake in the ground, if you will.I was quite blown away by the precise and fluid nature of the playing on 'Punch' - and then I heard the applause at the end - and realised that this had been played live in front of an audience. That was quite a sobering moment. I now rue not seeing them last year when they played nearby. That must really have been something to see.
M**Y
get dancin'!
Lunasa - Gaelic, and not 'Loaded' as my receipt called it! - will get you dancin'....If they don't, you're probably unconscious!
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