Danish-Irish Society Review of Siar Anoir

Galway based Nábac have recently released their debut cd Siar Anoir. I have had the good fortune of hearing the band live on several occasions and have been waiting for this cd. I must say I’m not at all disappointed – in fact this is a great cd.
From the first track, which consists of two Scandinavian tunes to the last track, which consists of proper Irish reels, it’s a pure pleasure to listen to.
The very first tune is Femspring, a tune made famous (in my universe, at least) by the Danish/Irish trad./folk/jazz band ULC. I would have sworn Nabác had their version from them, but according to the sleeve notes, it must have made at least one detour through the hands and strings of Paul Kelly. Still it’s a great tune and a brave way of starting off an Irish cd.

Nábac is no doubt an “Irish” band, but they range wider than just pure Irish traditional music. On the cd we also find music from the Philippines, Cape Breton, America and a couple of own compositions, which all sound wonderful in the skilled hands and instruments of the five young musicians.
Normally it takes a lot from a singer for me to praise her/him, so here’s kudos to Noriana Kennedy, whose singing really does something for me, whether she sings in English, Filipino or Hungarian (sic!).
I’m so much of a purist that I think the only percussive instrument in Irish music should be the bodhrán, but admittedly Paddy Kennedy’s use of the cajon actually suits their music. Other instruments include flute, whistles, uilleann pipes, fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandola etc.
It is hard to believe that these musicians are not all playing full-time and I can see a problem in the future, when the band gets as “big” as it deserves, and some band members will have to choose between playing full-time and pursuing their scientific careers. Meanwhile I’ll just lean back and enjoy the brilliant music of Nabác. (Mich)
RRCD 001