Usher’s Island

Usher’s Island is Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, Paddy Glackin, Mike McGoldrick and John Doyle. I think it definitely lives up to expectations. I have written a review of it here http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2017/04/ushers-island-ushers-island/

this is their first Usher’s Island recording.
The music combines the excitement of the 1970’s traditional Irish groups with a modern sensibility informed by a range of influences.

The boys are doing a not to be missed launch gig for the CD at the Chorlton Irish Club in Manchester on Wednesday 10th May. Tickets: £15 and can be bought from http://www.chorltonirishclub.co.uk/event-2535238 or: www.wegottickets.com
Doors at 7.30 and 8pm start

Concerning track 3, I doubt that the first tune is Drunken Landlady as it is in 5/4… But I haven’t the CD’s notes so I can’t say if the band called that tune with the same name of the well-known and traditionnal reel called Drunken Landlady.

Didier is right and wrong. Mike McGoldrick writes in the sleeve notes: ‘John and I were playing around with this common reel and somehow it ended up in the time signature of 5/4’.

The first hornpipe on Track #9 is the hornpipe recorded by Sean Keane [ and I think Mary Bergin ] under the name "The Humours Of Ballyconnell" - nothing to do with the reel of the same name.
The tune following it has also been recorded recently by Angelina Carberry and Dan Brouder. I’ve no idea how it came to be in the Goodman collection, but it is very probably Scottish as it is a hornpipe version of a melody used for the song "My Nanny, O" which I think comes from the time of Robert Burns.

An All-Star assemblage of the best of the best. John Doyle’s controlled energy comes through with splendid instrumentals by all the players. I passed on a copy to my 25 year old daughter and she liked it a lot. As the song on the CD says "Good as it Gets". I think this one will rank up there with the Chieftains, Bothy Band and Planxty as one greatest full band recordings of Irish music. Not sure I could recommend this more for lovers of Irish music. Slainte!

The last reel is a variant of Mourne Mountains/Tom Ward’s Downfall.