There's nothing new on this compilation, no rare or unreleased gems. So why is it such a satisfying disc? Perhaps because
Compass
has gradually put together an impressive roster of
Celtic
artists (although
Kate Rusby
is English, not
-- an important distinction).
Lunasa
,
Sharon Shannon
, and
Paul Brady
make for a powerful one-two-three leadoff, and if it stopped there, it would be impressive, but that's just the beginning. They have some of the very best talent from several generations, including younger talent like
Bill Jones
and
Niall
&
Cillian Vallely
. The tracks are well selected for a graceful glide of music. To anyone who has a few of these discs, this might be dispensable. But to anyone just looking to investigate the crop of
(and more) sounds out there, this offers a great place to begin. ~ Chris Nickson