RED CROW

RED CROW

• Music

This 1990 release nicely mixes reels, jigs, and songs from the Celtic group whose career was about to peak with 1992's <I>Harvest Storm</I> and 1993's <I>Island Angel</I>. <I>The Red Crow</I> resembles other Altan albums in energy and traditional music selections but stands out for its variety of guest accompanists, which includes pianist S´amus Quinn, mandolin player Niall Toner, and keyboardist M´ire Breathnach. In fact, "Mallaí Chroich Shlí" is one of those rare--perhaps only--cuts where ambient synthesizer appears on an Altan song--and tastefully at that. Other highlights include the lovely "Tommy Bhetty's Waltz" and "Inis Dhún Rámha," dominated by a bouncing acoustic guitar. Overall, there's a great variety of hardcore Altan fun here with a bit of New Age softness and folkie flavor thrown in. <I>--Karen Karleski</I>