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Kila - Lemonade & Buns - Kila Records KRCD006 | ||||
Its been all of four years since Kila earned an Irish gold disc for the excellent Tog E Go Bog E (Take It Easy) album. So a great deal was expected from the new release by this Dublin based seven piece. Firstly Im happy to report they havent lost any of their inventiveness. From the opening strains of the Compledgegationist (try saying that after a Shandy or two) its clear that Kila have lost non-of their originality. If anything they seem to have gained in confidence as a unit. Lemonade & Buns not only consolidates their position, it also pushes the boundaries a little further. Still driven to a degree by Eoin Dillons remarkable mastery of the uilleann pipes and whistle. Coupled with Rossa O Snodaighs excellent Bouzouki giving the impression that Kila is a typical Irish traditional group. That, however couldnt be further from the truth. This album is even more of a cultural journey than their previous recording. One minute youre safely on Irish ground, then to Africa as the vocals transport you to some far off desert plain. Before you know it the slide guitarist hints at echoes of Mid-West America, then a tune takes a turn into Eastern Europe. With all these influences itd be easy to mistake this collection for an album without any real focus, but surprisingly it works. Yes there are many different styles on offer, but whether it be a tune or a song, each part has its place giving the album a sense of identity. Id never thought of Kila as being at the cutting edge of Celtic fusion music, the truth is that theyre just a lot more subtle than most at achieving their goals. If the Afro-Celt Sound System is just too much for you then give Kila a try, you might just surprise yourself. Keith Whitham |
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