Local Ground

by Altan

Overview

When Altan first lit up the folk scene in 1989 with the superb Horse With a Heart, critics and listeners alike heralded them as the future of traditional Celtic music. Slowly but surely the group lived up to its promise, delivering album after album of forward-thinking jigs, ballads, reels, and airs, but as the genre became flooded with likeminded acts, Altan records began to show signs of wear and tear, with keyboards and fretless bass replacing the band's signature acoustic -- but still very contemporary -- sound. Altan have managed to rediscover the spirit that originally moved them on Local Ground, their tenth studio release and third since leaving Green Linnet for the Narada label. The heavenly voice of lead singer/fiddler Maighread Ni Mhaonaigh has never sounded better, especially on standout ballads like "As I Roved Out" and "The Wind and Rain," and the group -- always a single organism -- rips through piece after piece like the bandmembers' lives depended on it. Other highlights include the fiery "Tommy Peoples/The Road to Cashel/The Repeal of the Union/Richie's Reel," the rousing traditional tale of young love -- with additional lyrics penned by Maighread's father -- "Eirigh 's Cuir Ort Do Chuid Eadaigh (Arise Now and Dress Yourself)," and the gorgeous closer -- an effective Altan tradition -- "Dun Do Shuil (Close Your Eyes)." ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	03/12/2021
Label:	Compass
UPC:	0766397477329
Rank:	30919

Tracks

1. ¿¿irigh 's Cuir Ort Do Chuid ¿¿adaigh
2. Tommy Peoples/The Road to Cashel/The Repeal of the Union/Richie's Reel
3. Is the Big Man Within?/Tilly Finn's Reel
4. Adieu, My Lovely Nancy
5. B¿¿ Mh¿¿n na Toitean/Con McGinley's Highland/Seanamhach Tube Station
6. Amhr¿¿n Pheadair Bhreathnaigh
7. The Roseville
8. As I Roved Out
9. Sp¿¿rt
10. The Humours of Castlefin/Nia's Dance/An D¿¿idn
11. The Wind and Rain
12. The Silver Slipper
13. D¿¿n Do Sh¿¿il (Close Your Eyes)
14. Andy Dixon's/Ril Chois Claidigh/The Swilly Reel

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Altan   Primary Artist
Donal Lunny   Guest Artist,Guitar
Carlos Nunez   Guest Artist,Gaita,Whistle (Human)
Mark Kelly   Bouzouki,Vocals (Background),Guitar,Vocals
Jim Higgins   Bodhran,Percussion
Daithi Sproule   Guitar,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Ciaran Curran   Bouzouki,Mandolin
Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh   Fiddle,Vocals
Stephen Cooney   Bass
Triona Ni Dhomhnaill   Piano
Steve Cooney   Bass
The Dermot Byrne Blues Combo   Accordion
Ciaran Tourish   Fiddle,Vocals,Whistle (Human),Vocals (Background)
Graham Henderson   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Dermot Byrne   Arranger
Sean Ryan   Composer
Proinsias O Maonaigh   Translation
Brian Masterson   Mixing,Mastering
Daithi Sproule   Arranger,Composer
Peadar O Riada   Composer
Ciaran Curran   Arranger
Altan   Producer
Charlie Lennon   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh   Arranger,Composer
Mark Kelly   Arranger,Arranger
Proinsias O'Maonaigh   Translation
The Dermot Byrne Blues Combo   Arranger
Bernadette Kiely   Cover Art
Edain ODonnell   Photography
John McCarthy   Composer
Alvin Sweeney   Engineer
Ciaran Tourish   Arranger,Composer