ALTAN
Local Ground
Compass Records
Here’s an early St. Patrick’s Day present. If you are a Celtic music fan, chances are you need no introduction to Altan, a veritable Irish supergroup that has been around since 1987. Nor do I need to sing the glories of Altan cofounder Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (roughly ma-RAYd nee WEEnie for the Irish-impaired), she of the delicate bird-like voice that enraptures listeners.
Altan’s newest release is an old one, a statement in need of illumination. Altan has 21 recordings to its credit, of which Local Ground was its 10th—if you could lay hands on it. It was recorded in 2005, but was available only in Japan except for a brief reprint on Virgin Music’s Narada label. That’s how I originally came across it back in the days in which SingOut Magazine had a global reach. Nashville-based Compass Records has gained redistribution rights so that more North Americans can have access to this wonderful release.
Again, for those less familiar with the band, Altan’s signature sound is its combination of Donegal-influenced instrumentals and Ní Mhaonaigh vocals. Donegal music is distinctive in that it generally features two lead fiddles, those of Ní Mhaonaigh and Ciaran Tourish. These give the ensemble a strong melodic base, and fretted instruments (Dáithí Sproule and Mark Kelly on guitars) act as rhythm and percussive supplements. Back then, Dermont Byrne’s accordion acted as a third melody instrument, though he has since left the band. Most Altan instrumental sets are of the step-lively variety and Ní Mhaonaigh’s vocals are slower and more fragile grab-a-breather interludes that are often sung in Irish. “Éirigh’s cuir ort do chuid éadaigh” is an example of this. It’s a song about a man trying to convince a lass to elope with him. You can take my word for that and hear for yourself what’s going on in English-language offerings such as the well-known immigration ballad “Adieu, My Lovely Nancy;” “As I Roved Out,” a variant of “Blackwaterside;” and “TheWind and Rain,” an Irish take on a Scottish song. There are several other songs in Irish as well, including the lullaby “Dūn do Shuil” (“Close Your Eyes”). Somehow, Ní Mhaonaigh and lullabies seem made for one another.
As noted, Altan mixes things up via up-tempo sets such as “Tommy Peoples,” four tunes bookended by reels, and “Is the Big Red Man Within?” a jig and reel combo. Sproule penned “The Roseville” when he lived in Minnesota, and it has a suitably barn dance vibe. The “Bό Mhín na Toitean” combo of a march, a Highland, and jig is a bit like “The Roseville,” though more distinctly Irish in structure. There’s also Altan’s take on a classic slip jig and jig originally performed by the legendary John Doherty. (Slip jigs are generally in 9/8 timing and straight jigs in 12/8.) For the re-release, Compass has added a bonus track, the breakneck “Andy Dixon’s” set that’s a dynamic addition to an already superb album.
If, like me, you’ve collected the entire Altan oeuvre, Local Ground is a must-have recording. But, I also envy those who are just now discovering Altan; Local Ground will delight and make you want to hear more. Me too, though there’s no comparable rush to the one that first makes your jaw drop to your ankles.
Rob Weir
Note: Most of these links are slightly different from those on from Local Ground.
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