Various Artists: (Clo Iar Chonnachta)

This motherlode sprang from the first intensive Irish-language Willie Clancy-style music school in Connemara, 19 solo outings from one of those endearingly interminable concerts which mean you can throw your hat at ever reaching the pub. Apart from the odd cough or clatter in the middle of a fonn mall, this is awesome stuff: the deeply impressive singer Ciaran O Concheanainn; 21-year old Roisin Nic Dhonncha's joyous whistling; 17-year-old London-born fiddler Tracey Ni Shuilleabhain's ancient tricks; boxman Sean Mac Gabhann, fluters like June Ni Chormaic or Siobhan Ni Chonarain; or Oisin Mac Diarmada, Micheal O Ruanaigh, Micheal O hEidhin - but jeekers, I better stop. Sher who am I to be handing out All-Irelands?

Bill Laswell/Various Artists: Emerald Aether: Shape Shifting (Shanachie)

I've long admired this producer for his work with African groove music, but landing in Irish trad pastures at this time seems like either naked opportunism or too much gurgling through the Celtic water-bong. He brings his sonic shape-shifting to Jerry O'Sullivan, Solas and their heart-breaking, former singer Karan Casey, Cathie Ryan and Matt Molloy. The resultant "mix-translations" are like trying to listen to AM radio in a magnetic storm. Apart from the odd industrial boink and off-key jungle shuffle, Laswell doesn't add anything that Riverdance, the AfroCelts or Hector Zazou haven't already. I actually find it tolerable enough, but fundamentalist tradsters will curl up and die.