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TEANNAICH - Energised

TEANNAICH - Energised
Private Label EHCD07

One of the premier ceilidh rock ensembles delivers their second album – some 15 years after the first – and boy have they delivered. All five members are accomplished musicians and here give us a broad selection of their current set list. Mostly electric, and driven by the solid rhythm section of Colin Cairncross on drums and Jonathan Kemp on bass, the tunes are primarily intended for dancing to, but are equally suited to a concert setting – but in any case deserve to be played at a half decent volume. The guitarist, Mark Neal, demonstrates a sophisticated rock sensibility and fiddler, Jon Bews, compliments him perfectly. Final member, Mike Ross, plays elegant cittern throughout – his contribution to the freestyle Walk On The Speyside is an absolute triumph. The only things missing from the dance tracks are beginning and end chords which would be normal at formal dances (however, these guys are maybe not so formal, but still as tight as they can get, musically).

The final track, Kings Gerbils (a Cumberland Square Eight) is a monumental medley to finish with, and had I danced through the full 62 minute set, I would have been on my knees by now. In fact, Eriskay Skunk (Strip the Willow) would probably have finished me off much earlier in the set.

The first CD of the year to really get my toes tapping involuntarily, I find myself eagerly seeking out venues to catch this band live. No reservations – this is a cracking ceilidh band, and a killer album.

www.teannaich.com

Grem Devlin


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This album was reviewed in Issue 118 of The Living Tradition magazine.