Free Spirit

MARTIN DONOGHUE & PHIL CUNNINGHAM: "Free Spirit" (CIC)

ONE MIGHT perhaps call him Cavan's answer to Curly Watts, for box player Martin Donoghue used to (and maybe still does) manage a supermarket. In between running the town's answer to Bettabuys he found time to record this album, a reissue from 1989, in the company of such people as Phil Cunningham, Peter Condell, Fintan McManus, and Gerry O'Beirne.

Free Spirit is, as its name might suggest, an unfettered (and sometimes undisciplined) affair, possessed of the liberty to roam wherever it wishes. This it does by way of detour through a plethora of styles and settings, but despite the temptations presented, never strays too far off course, being at all times, astutely guided by the hand of producer Phil Cunningham. Though liberated Free Spirit's touchstone is traditional music with pieces like 'Francis John's' - a set of reels learnt from the likes of Liz Carroll and Billy McComiskey - being fine examples of the genre.

The playing throughout is of a very high standard, the core of the tunes complemented by some lovely instrumental shadings from the musicians. I have but two gripes. The tempo on 'Inisheer' seems to me to be a little choppy, and I'm not at all sure of the wisdom of including 'Feet of a Dancer/I Know my Love'. Those caveats apart, this is a fine album.

• Oliver P. Sweeney