| Memories
from the Holla - Holla Records HRCD001
"Simply
a treasure to the ear and food for the
soul"
Máirtin O'Connor
Musicians:
Angelina Carberry -
Banjo
Peter Carberry - Accordion
John Blake - Guitar
& Keyboards
Guest Musicians:
Liz Kane - Fiddle
Laoise Kelly - Harp
Peter Carberry Senior - Uilleann
Pipes |
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Tracks:
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HOLLA RECORDS HRCD001
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(All
tunes from traditional repertoire and arranged
by Peter Carberry and Angelina Carberry except
track 8, unknown).
Memories from
the Holla Review - by mustrad.org
Originally from
the Holla in County Longford, Peter Carberry
will be well known to a lot of English based
musicians from his many years in Manchester.
A couple of years ago he returned to Ireland
and settled in Galway where he now plays regular
sessions. This CD, featuring Peter on accordions
and his daughter Angelina on banjo, will be
a reminder for those who knew him in England
and a real treat for those new to his music.
Ennis based John Blake provides guitar and piano
accompaniment and Peter's uncle, also called
Peter, joins in on the uilleann pipes for a
few old tunes. Liz Kane on fiddle and Laoise
Kelly on harp also contribute to a couple of
selections each.
This CD bears
comparison with Charlie Piggott and Gerry Harrington's
New Road CD (reviewed here last year). There
is an instant accessibility to the music, but
lots of the subtleties and intimacy become more
apparent with repeated playing. The choice of
tunes too has similarities with Charlie Piggott's
repertoire, lots of them are in minor or modal
keys. The most striking thing about the tunes
is how few of them are commonly played and it
is probably worth drawing further comparisons
with the McNamara family CD and Brian McNamara's
own solo to show what a wealth of music has
gone unrecorded for so long. The more well known
tunes are often played in unusual settings and
we particularly like the way they play The Spike
Island Lasses and The Master's Return.
The music itself
is played at a steady, unhurried pace with the
banjo's regular throb complementing the box's
open tones very nicely. There is something very
satisfying in this combination and it is one
you hear often enough in sessions but not on
record. The modal nature of the music is reinforced
by the duo playing a tone below normal pitch
for some of the selections. Following an accident
to his hand, Peter changed from B/C fingering
to C#/D with help from Martin O'Connor but continues
to use the old box. There seems to be a growing
enthusiasm for playing in lower pitch. Pipers
have done it for years but other players are
seeking out the mellow tones from flat pitched
instruments.
The music on this
CD shows a nice variety both in the choice of
tune types and in the different combinations
of instruments. Each of the main players takes
a solo track. Angelina's solo features a couple
of more modern reels, one of which is linked
with Mike McGoldrick. Peter makes a fine job
of a slow air Amhran an Bha paired with the
old pipers' slip jig An Phis Phliuch and Uncle
Peter plays three piper's reels ending with
the Bunch of Keys which is associated with both
Johnny Doran and Seamus Ennis. Occasional other
sets are kicked off by a solo instrument. Laoise
Kelly's harp introduces two lovely hornpipes
Paddy Connelly's Stack of Barley and Nellie
Your Favours I'm Afraid I'll not Gain and the
second one of these has a feeling of Junior
Crehan about it although there is nothing in
the sleeve notes to confirm it. Great tunes
with fantastic names! Angelina introduces another
set of reels with The Morning Thrush before
the fiddle and box join in on a tune credited
as a Clare reel and one of Paddy Fahy's. The
whole programme seems to be very well planned,
the selections are well thought out and provide
interest and variety throughout the full 50
odd minutes of music.
The production
of the CD is up to the high standard one expects
these days. The mix is very good and the music
comes over very cleanly with the accompaniment
adding to the overall sound. The sleeve notes
are fairly brief and concentrate on documenting
Peter's links back to the Holla and his younger
days. There are no notes on the tunes and the
track listing is superimposed over a rather
busy photo of the musicians so you may find
yourself squinting at the back of the CD to
identify the tune titles.
To Order:
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from the Holla" CD on-line securely, by
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