For Love and Laughter in Bloomington, MN

Few Irish bands that are as deeply rooted in Celtic tradition as
Solas
is manage to rock anywhere near as hard as they do. It's not just that they play with vigor and power -- it's that they rock. On their eighth album of new material (and first with singer
Mairead Phelan
) they focus, as usual, on traditional tunes and songs, investing everything with their trademark blend of off-handed virtuosity and joyful energy, and they throw in a few subtle curveballs as well -- such as a lovely arrangement of
Rickie Lee Jones
'
"Sailor Song,"
and another of an old
Dillards
number called
"There Is a Time."
Hipster string band
the Duhks
join in for a couple of tracks as well. But while there are no weak tracks on this album, its most thrilling moments turn out to be the most traditional (or at least traditional-sounding) ones: a stunning rendition of
"The Gallant Hussar,"
the spectacular reel set that opens the program, and a pair of original jigs by bandleader
Seamus Egan
and guitarist
Eamon McElholm
. The exception to that rule is a drop-dead gorgeous modern song called
"Merry Go Round,"
a tune that is not especially Celtic in feel but that fits beautifully into the program anyway.
Phelan
's voice is quite different from that of original singer
Karan Casey
-- it's a bit darker and grainier, and it brings a nice new facet to
' established sound. ~ Rick Anderson