Lunasa is the contemporary Celtic band wowing audiences and fans since arriving on the music scene in 1996. The group is named for a Celtic harvest festival honoring the Irish god, Lugh. This album was put together from studio work and live recordings done in 1996 at the Lobby Bar, Cork and was available only as an import album until now. There are twelve tracks, eleven from the original album and a bonus one. The Lunasa group is comprised of five musicians and a variety of instruments including guitar, fiddle, double bass, flute, low whistle and uilleann pipes (bagpipe family).
The unique sound of Lunasa has to do with the combination of instruments and a distinct sense of rhythm. This is music with purpose. "Eanair," the opening number, for example, is a danceable melody played by guitar and whistle. As the music segues from a march into a gavotte and then a reel, the group adds fiddle, broadening the music structure with increased tempo, much like a group of musicians marching along a street, speeding up and adding members at the same time. The sixth song, "Meitheamh," a set of reels, is another prime example. This piece was recorded live and begins with a fiddle solo by Smyth. His style sounds remarkably like Stephane Grappelli on the soundtrack of the 1990 French film, May Fools (starring Michel Piccoli and Miou-Miou). "Meitheamh" adds guitar accompaniment, flute and eventually ends as a three-way dialogue between instruments going from minor key to major to minor. It is a tapestry of Celtic sound.
Lunasa also plays klezmer music, but there is only one selection on this CD and that is "Ivil." It succeeds in sounding mournful. On the other hand, "Bealtaine" (a combination of slow reel and single jig) has fiddle and flute dialoguing on top of guitar and bass like two people conversing at a party. "Airbreann" (hornpipe) uses the low whistle extensively; in fact, you can hear the player inhale as though you were sitting next to him. The bonus twelfth track is traditional melodies of "Jacky Molards" and "The Hunter's Purse." "Jacky Molards" uses fiddle and whistle and is, indeed, standard in tempo, while "The Hunter's Purse" has a syncopated beat with guitar and whistle giving it a jazz sound and making a contemporary piece of an old song.
Lunasa brings Celtic music, which one may think of as moody and dark, into the light of contemporary music with instrumental combinations such as fiddle and uilleann pipes (example, the reel "Mean Fomhair"). Most selections are comprised of two or three Celtic dances (jig or reel) and the group segues well from one to another. Lunasa is, indeed, a festival unto itself.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Leslie BogarLunasa has recently brought their traditional Irish sound to the states and if you take a listen you will have a hard time sitting still. Recently, on their first American tour to New York City, they had sold out shows all by word of mouth. To fill a sold out show by word of mouth takes some good music and Lunasa has brought that about. The band derived its name from the ancient Celtic harvest…Similar sounding releases
2001Michael McGoldrick / John McSherryAt First Light
2003Paddy Keenan / Tommy O'SullivanThe Long Grazing Acre
1994The CrossingDancing at the Crossroads
2000Nick and Anita HaighCeltic Roots and Rhythms - Heartcry
2000The CompanyThe Company
2005Tim O'BrienFiddler's Green
