ALY BAIN & PHIL CUNNINGHAM

"THE PEARL"

Whirlie Records

A new record by Phil Cunningham is always a true event, more so if it is done together with Aly Bain. Both met almost 10 years ago, on television, and since then both have participated in numerous annual tours, always very much anticipated by their fans. Now, at long last, they have found the time to record the work they make together. This is an album, of course, of traditional Irish and Scottish music, yet it also contains relatively modern compositions, either by Phil or by other people (like Finlay MacRae, Fergie MacDonald, Arthur Darley...). As usual, most noteworthy is the tremendous rhythm imposed by the fiddle of Aly Bain and the accordion of Phil Cunningham, although the latter also plays the piano, the keyboards and other instruments like the cittern or the whistle. In some occasions, frenzy gives way to emotion, yet it is always possible to find something positive in this record.

M.M.

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