Siobhán Long reviews a traditional release from this week

JAMES KEANE, RANDAL BAYS AND DÁITHÍ SPROULE

Fingal

New Folk Records

The spirit and vigour of the live performance is everywhere on this (mostly live) recording. New York- based Dublin fiddler James Keane has a string of fine releases already to his name, and his newly forged recording acquaintances are hardly neophytes, either. American fiddler Randal Bays traces beautifully wrought arcs in the air with his effortless fiddle style, while Altan guitarist and singer Dáithí Sproule accompanies the pair on a cosmopolitan melee of tunes with vim. Their trio of Paddy Fahy tunes glory in the pirouetting interplay of accordion and fiddle. Keane's restrained and playful notes dash between Bays' strings with childlike abandon. The songs make much less of an impression, but the ensemble soars high and wide on Planxty John Kelly, a sublime lesson in artful restraint. www. fingalmusic.com

Download track: Planxty John Kelly