TRADITIONAL

Latest releases reviewed

Latest releases reviewed

CORA SMYTH AND BREDA SMYTH
Cora Smyth and Breda Smyth
Gael Linn
***

PSibling ribaldry is what defines this duetting debut from Sligo sisters Cora and Breda Smyth. Fiddle and whistle are a fiery, feisty combination at the best of times, and the Smyths certainly know how to rifle through their fair share of frantic set-pieces, reaching a crescendo of hyperactivity in the Salamanca Set. Their years on the road with Lord of the Dance might be partly responsible for the cheesiness of Aaron's Key, a set that starts out with crystalline bow lines, only to be muddied by the defensive jousting of Cora's fiddle and Tim Edey's guitar. Dextrous, lithe whistle refreshes the palate on Dangerous Bends, and Cora's slow air, Im' Aonar, offers a glimpse of musicians with far more depth than they've plumbed on their debut. www.corasmythbredasmyth.com

Siobhán Long

Siobhán Long

Siobhán Long, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes about traditional music and the wider arts