Lá NuaLúnasa Records ***

There’s an inherent balance and control to Lúnasa’s sound that’s become their trademark. Anchored by Trevor Hutchinson’s double bass and Paul Meehan’s guitar, bouzouki and mandolin, the band’s use of low whistle, flute and pipes to propel a tune high into the stratosphere finds fullest expression in their live performances. Lá Nua, Lúnasa’s first studio album in four years, sees them in reflective mood, epitomised by Seán Smyth’s sublimely fluid fiddle and Kevin Crawford’s flute on

Fruitmarket Reels.

The band’s original compositions provide a robust foundation, further bolstered by their inclusion of the haughty Galician set,

Pontevedra to Carcarosa

. Regrettably, at times Lúnasa’s perfectly formed arrangements sacrifice some soul to the mix but there’s still no mistaking the band’s zest for strong tunes, set against rich tapestries of sound. See lunasa.ie

Download tracks: The Shore House, Doc Holliday's