McGoldrick (flutes) and McSherry (pipes) are both masters of their respective instruments and paint amazing landscapes and emotions without knocking you over with their power. The first track magically transported me to an Irish pub (either that or Bilbo's eleventy-first birthday party). I could almost see the gleeful folk dancing around me with ales in hand.
The entire album is full of experiences like this. I also hasten to mention what a great production this is to mix such excellent flutes and pipes with anticipatory basses and whistles, warm guitars, other instruments I've never even heard of and a composition that borders on jazzy at times. Most tracks are actually combinations of two or three songs neatly blended in a medley that flows from one style right into another without losing a beat. Looking at it that way, you're getting 25 different tracks.
Fans of Celtic music ought to pick this one up.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Chris MacIntoshPicture if you would, a group of Celtic warriors the evening before a major battle. They dance around a large bonfire, dancing and singing preparing for battle the next morning. Or picture their more modern counterparts at a wedding or some other festive gathering dancing and celebrating to the sound of the flute, pipes and drums. These are just some of the mental pictures conjured up whilst…Similar sounding releases
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