John Carty & Brian Rooney

At Complete Ease Rocket Records ****

At Complete Ease Rocket Records****

Surprises lurk around every corner on this magnificent album. A celebration of fiddle music has rarely sounded so full-spirited and so zen-like. The album is anchored by John Carty and James Rooney, and augmented by John's son James and Brian's brother Mickey (and with the subtlest guitar accompaniment from Arty McGlynn, bouzouki from Alec Finn and piano from Brian McGrath). There's an intimacy to the playing that lures the listener in from the idyllic opening jig set, Morris Scanlon's.The CD title tells it like it is. Carty and Rooney play like conjoined twins, utterly at ease in one another's company, never chafing at the bit to outshine one another. Their choice of tunes is at one with their playing, epitomised by the tranquility of their ensemble playing on the waltz, My Own Western Home. A seamless coalescing of past and present. See johncartymusic.com

Siobhán Long

Siobhán Long

Siobhán Long, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes about traditional music and the wider arts