(click on cover image for larger version)

Éist: Songs in their Native Language
Various Artists

Dara Records / Bord na Gaeilge (TORTV 105 CD)
(Released 1999)

1. Molly na gCuach ní Chuilleanáin - Altan
2. Ar Bhruach na Carraige Báine - Seamus Begley & Mary Black *
3. Tá mo Cleamhnas Déanta - Van Morrison & The Chieftains
4. Éist, a Stóor - Brian Kennedy & Maire Bhreatnach *
5. Aisling Ghéear - Maura O'Connell *
6. Seanchas - Clannad
7. Jimmy Mo Mhíle Stóor - Frances Black *
8. Gleanntáain Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair - Paul Brady *
9. Éist do Bhéeal - Sinead Lohan *
10. Mo Ghille Mear - Mary Black *
11. Seachtain - John Spillane
12. An Cailin Gaelach - Maighréad ní Dhomhnaill
13. Mná na hÉireann - Kate Bush
14. Na Conghailigh - Christy Moore *

* Denotes previously unreleased songs

Musicians: (see above, and notes below)

Notes:
The Van track is taken from the Irish Heartbeat album, so regrettably nothing new here. Website for the record company at http://www.dolphin-dara.ie

Review from Mic Moroney :
Apart from the likes of Seamus Begley and Maighréad ní Dhomhnaill, there are some great touches of Buntús blás in this entertaining compilation of singers lurching back into their native tongue. Most tracks are newly released, many from Sult sessions, while others are cherry-picked from elsewhere. Thus, lifted from Blackwater, Altan's catchy harmonised Molly na gCuach ní Chuilleanáin sees them going the way of Lunny / early Clannad, while Van Morrison grumps through a yowling come-all-ye with the Chieftains on Tá mo Cleamhnas Déanta/My Match is Made. One of the strongest tracks sees Mary Black duetting with Seamus Begley on the lovely old Ar Bhruach na Carraige Báine, a song Begley has been living in for the last half-century, Sinead Lohan chips in with a lippy Éist do Bhéeal, while Maire Breathnach joins with Brian Kennedy's ladylike falsetto for a sensitive Éist, a Stóor. Maura O'Connell delivers a crass Eurovision-style Aisling Ghéear but Frances Black does herself proud with a tiny mouse whisper on Jimmy Mo Mhíle Stóor.

It's interesting to see these folkies return to their musical roots particularly Paul Brady's raw, wailing energy on Gleanntáain Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair or Christy Moore basting Na Conghailigh with a bit of rough-hewn majesty. The biggest chuckle is Kate Bush's Darby O'Gill-accented Mná na hÉireann, histrionically dragging swathes of Ó Riada orchestration along behind her, but with a whipping knife edge of emotion which makes it all worthwhile. Quality muzak, what more can I say?

Part of the van-the-man.info unofficial website