The Bothy Band - The Best Of The Bothy Band - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that siblings Míchaeál Ó Domhnaill and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, rhythm genius Dónal Lunny, piping king Paddy Keenan, flute virtuoso Matt Molloy, and brilliant fiddler Kevin Burke stood at the very summit of the Celtic music - a group admired by all, imitated by many, surpassed by none. It was inevitable that the group would record a live album (in that bastion of Celtic music, Paris, France!) producing a wild, uninhibited set of music, played with verve, and captured with truly great sonics.

If you are looking for something different-something that will pique the ear and stir the heart in new ways-look no further. Song of the Shulamite is a 27-minute work that tells the love story of the Song of Solomon-the passionate courtship between the beautiful, young field worker, the Shulamite, and her true love. The work's use of modes and Middle Eastern idioms point geographically to the story's setting, creating a sense of antiquity, while it's use of repetitive patterns and exotic instrumentation in the form of marimba, vibraphone and harp produce fresh, modern interest. Even though it's source text is sacred, this work can be considered either sacred or secular since, when taken at face value, these poems stand on their own as exquisitely written, highly erotic expressions of love absent any religious theology.

Few Irish folk bands had the intense fire in their bellies that The Bothy Band did-and never did it heat up more than on their 1975 debut. This was their only LP with Donegal's Tommy Peoples on fiddle; his electrifying work is heard on the Butterfly; Julia Delaney; Do You Love an Apple; Patsy Geary's/Coleman's Cross, and more songs, jigs and reels!