Decade

Ten years together now and, while they never really tried to invent the traditional wheel, Sligo's Dervish have been nothing but exemplary ambassadors for Irish music. A compilation spread across five albums, Decade shows that they can turn out a fine tune but are at their best when the extraordinary presence and voice of Cathy Jordan takes front stage. That they have constantly refused to allow their original vision to become tarnished in the name of commercialism (how many bands have coped with the strain of running their own label for so long?) is to their eternal credit and that they have achieved global success with that vision - this year saw them play the massive Rock In Rio festival - is even more so. Those yet to have experienced Dervish should start here. Now.