Decade

This new effort from the Irish string trio sees them return with an impressive display of fiddle music based around the Donegal tradition.

Admittedly, I found the first track, ‘The Pinch of Snuff/The Wild Irishman’, a little too frenetic, but pieces like ‘The First Draft’ see the boys restrain their sound slightly to good effect. In fact, the hits are far more common across these 13 tracks and for the most part I enjoyed being swept away by the playing and the gorgeous tunes.

The trio seem to be having a lot of fun here and clearly know each other's styles very well, which comes across nicely on record. I particularly like the plucked strings on ‘The Earl of Dalkeith/Árd Na dTaibhsí’, as well as the odd scratchy notes here and there, giving the whole thing an appealingly less polished feel. Highlights are plentiful, but James Byrne's air, ‘When the Ship Leaves the Harbour’, is heart-breaking and beautifully played. Notes on each track, plus the style of each tune make for interesting reading and complete a very elegant package.