When all is said and done, Danú are one of the few trad acts currently on the go who bring a sense of vibrant edginess to their impeccable credentials. For while they always show due loyalty to their heritage they can also invigorate old tunes with new zest and while treating the tradition with total respect they can also have themselves (and us) a bundle of fun. For their latest opus, even Dylan’s ‘Farewell Angelina’, written in the dim and distant '60s, gets a sprightly spring-clean from Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh’s expressive vocals.
It’s one of five songs here that prove she's one of the most gifted vocalists on the trad scene. With her assured and confident voice she also gives Paul Brady’s ‘Follow On’ a fresh airing, as well as a few trad tunes, including two as Gaeilge. Thus, this is an album of almost two equal halves, and while the ensemble playing is politely restrained behind her telling voice, they save the knockabout stuff for the instrumentals.
‘Kilfenora’ treats us to stirring pipery from Donnchadh Gough, double fiddles and flutes apply an added depth to ‘The Coachman’s Whip’ and they take ‘Around The House’ at a fair clip yet with the greatest of ease and the smoothest of playing, especially from Benny McCarthy on his accordion. ‘The Peacock’s Feather’, meanwhile, offers another opportunity for Gough to showcase his beguiling uilleann pipe playing.
So when all is said and done, another commendable set from the hottest septet on the Irish music scene.