25 Years of Celtic Music

Despite the potential horrors of selling Irish music to an American audiences, Green Linnet has managed to avoid many of the attendant clichés that have plagued Celtic music overseas. In fact they have achieved the unique feat of selling it back to the shores from whence it came. That the company has been headed for twenty-five years by ex-Bothy Band member Kevin Burke may have contributed to it keeping it real.

Maybe a little too real, as none of the thirty-two tracks on offer really attempts anything beyond the traditional blueprint. That said, there are some fine moments to be had. The emphasis is strongly on the instrumental, with the likes of Eileen Ivers, Liz Carroll and the wonderful Martin Hayes all shining. Elsewhere, up and coming youngsters such as Lúnasa mingle with Patrick Street and Silly Wizard, and Niamh Parsons marks herself out as voice for the future. The earth may remain resolutely unshattered but the folk at Green Linnet can be justly proud of themselves.