REVIEW FROM www.livingtradition.co.uk

JOHN CRONIN AND DAITHI KEARNEY - Midleton Rare
Private Label JCDK001

According to the background notes, the town of Midleton is a rarity indeed, in that it is not usually celebrated for Irish traditional music. If that was the case, it can’t make that claim any more, as this CD is based on the sort of session tunes that John and Daithi brought with them when they moved there, along with their affinity with the music of Sliabh Luachra, the border area between the counties of Cork and Kerry.

John is a melodeon player whose childhood influences seem to have included every major influence in the area, and Daithi is a banjo and mandolin player, dancer and noted academic.

There’s nothing academic and rarefied about this playing, however, which is a full-bodied box-and-banjo album which fairly ripples along in a most infectious manner, defying the listeners’ feet to start tapping along. To add to the session feel, there are guest appearances by Barry Barret, bodhran; Mike Cummings, Bouzouki; Louise Keating, flute; Shane Keating, uilleann pipes; and Imelda Carthy, fiddle.

There’s an instinctiveness about the playing, illustrating the love and knowledge of the tunes that the players have, and this is easily conveyed to the listener. There is also a great clarity to the playing, with every note precise, and a tightness to the whole ensemble, which further reflects the continuing tradition that they are passing on.

After more people listen to this, I can imagine the sessions at Wallis’ Bar in Midleton will be busier than ever!

Gordon Potter