Mozaik

Item: Live From the Powerhouse
Author: Marie Asner

Live From the Powerhouse

(2004)

Reviewed by Marie Asner

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Label Compass RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2004

bluegrass celtic folk world

The group Mozaik (Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, Bruce Molsky, Nikola Parov and Rens van der Zalm) was formed two years ago and toured Australia with success. The selections on this CD are from that tour and comprise a variety of melodies from the United States ("Field Holler Medley") to Macedonia ("Suleman's Kopanitsa") to Ireland ("My Heart's Tonight in Ireland.") Instruments range from fiddle to whistle to bouzouki, mandolin, bodhran, banjo, clarinet and gadulka. Vocals on this CD are done by Andy Irvine.

The flavor of Live From the Powerhouse alternates between Romanian and Celtic with a bit of West Virginia thrown in for good measure. The melodies are clean, rhythms neatly play against each other, and lyrics come through crisp. All in all, it is a delight.

Vocal standouts are the combination "A Blacksmith Courted Me" and "Blacksmithereens" in which a young woman despairs in hearing of her love marrying another. Plus, "Baneasa's Green Glade" and "Roumen Sirakov's Daichevo" which is a tender remembrance of spending a year in Bucharest, "We'd talk of old times fond memories we'd trade, At dusk we'd walk home to Baneasa's Green Glade."

Instrumental highlights are "The Rocky Road to Dublin" and "Indian ate the Woodchuck" which actually combines two melodies from the U.S. utilizing fiddle solo. "Pony Boy" and "Never Tire of the Road" are in the style of Woody Guthrie with vocals here by Andy Irvine and fiddle duet by Bruce Molsky and Rens van der Zalm.

This reviewer's favorites are the aforementioned "Baneasa's Green Glade" and the last piece on the CD, "The Last Dance" with clarinet solo by Nikola Parov. This may be the last dance a bride does at her wedding and is in turn, sweet and sensual, with a touch of klezmer. Hopefully, Mozaik: Live from the Powerhouse won't be the last CD this group does. It's too good to stop now.

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