Ceolta Mhúscraí: Songs of Muskerry Gael Linn***

The Norman barony of Muskerry has in its gabháil the rich song tradition of Cúl Aodha, where singers are plentiful and listeners abound. This is an interesting and, at times, odd collection. In its gathering of regional singers, the widely revered Diarmuid Ó Suilleabháin, Seán Ó Liatháin and Máire Ní Cheocháin constitute a coherent trio, each at home with the big songs of Munster sean-nós, in which words and music share equal billing. Ní Cheocháin's renditions of Níl Sé 'Na Láand Eibhlín A Rúinoffer a pristine snapshot of a singer whose voice serves the intricacies of the song with a compelling mix of modesty and charisma. A rare live recording (from UCD) of Seán Ó Riada's Aisling Ghealbrings a deliciously pensive close to the collection, but the drawing-room grandeur of Seán Ó Siocháin (with a disproportionate selection of 10 songs) swaps the intimacy of the hearth for a revelry that grates against the finesse of the others' contributions. See gaellinn.com