By Heck

Melodeon player David Munnelly has described his music as “the Flanagan Brothers meet Hot Club de France”, and I couldn’t do better myself. Like his previous recording, 2002’s aptly titled Swing, Munnelly’s new CD was produced by guitarist Gavin Ralston and recorded at Ralston’s Silverwood studio in County Wicklow, with a lineup featuring his brother Kieran Munnelly on flute and bodhrán, Dáire Bracken on fiddle, and Ralston on guitar. As before, special guest Richie Buckley lends a hand on sax for a few tunes; among these are the irresistibly toe-tapping title track (first recorded by the Flanagans back in the 1930s), a joyous set of French Canadian reels, and ‘Ar Bhóithrín na Smaointe’, a beautiful slow air composed by David – one of several excellent originals on the album. Other guests include singers Andrew Murray and Helen Flaherty, Paul Kelly on mandolin and fiddle, Ryan Molloy on piano, bass player Joe Csibi and drummer Lloyd Byrne.