It's been five years since their last album and, in the interim, Dervish have revisited their Sligo roots, stripping tunes down to their essence and mining songs firmly rooted in the belly of the tradition. Liam Kelly's flute and Tom Morrow's fiddle furnish a delicate skeleton for many of the tune sets, with Shane Mitchell's accordion forming characteristically fluid shapes around them. Maggie's Lilt is a standout, anchored by a new reel composed by fiddler John Carty and another by Vincent Broderick. Cathy Jordan's crystalline voice tackles songs that are somewhat muted in colour, but The Lover's Token captures the essence of her natural phrasing. The saccharine and sentimental Shanagolden cuts the only dud note, but The Rolling Wave is an inspired reading that breathes new life into a hackneyed tune.
dervish.ie
Download: The Rolling Wave, The Lover's Token