Cuisle

This has to be one of the best traditional tin whistle recordings to come out in recent years; 2005 to be exact. It’s destined to be a classic.

Back in the late 1990’s I heard Angela Deane play a whistle solo on RTE 1’s Ceili House and was thoroughly impressed. She played a very memorable performance of “Jenny’s Welcome to Charlie.” Her rhythm was impeccable and her ornaments were clean, flawless and well-placed.

This CD is full of tracks just like that. It’s the kind of playing that makes the old classic tunes come alive again. She finds the groove of the tune and locks right into the pocket without ever sounding hurried or frantic, similar to the concertina playing of Micheal O Raghallaigh. The slow air is lovely too.

Angela Deane hails from County Mayo and has won Mayo and Connaught Fleadh Cheoils as well as the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in 1995 (15-18). She is joined on “Cuisle” by Caroline Deane (bodhran), Frank Kilkelly (guitar/piano) & Paul O’Driscoll (bass).

She cites Mary Bergin, Seamus Tansey and Joe Burke as some of her favourite musicians. If I had to compare I would say she sounds close in style to Breda Smyth. Both are from Mayo after all, but Angela definitely has her own sound.

…a fantastic recording altogether, well worth acquiring!!!

Great recording.She lives only a few miles away from me.I know her well.