Current Affairs (Runa Music, 2014)
Runa has become one of the leading Celtic music bands in North America. The group includes musicians from Ireland, the United States and Canada and the cross-continental pan-Celtic influences are evident.
Current Affairs includes a great selection of songs from various traditions. The album opens with a labor song from the American folk music tradition titled ‘The Banks Are Made of Marble.’ It was originally composed by a New York state apple farmer named Les Rice. Pete Seeger made it popular. ‘The Banks Are Made of Marble’ bridges various traditions by mixing Celtic fiddle with American banjo.
‘The Wife of Ushers Well’ is one of those Celtic songs that are found in various countries, including Scotland and North America. It’s a lively and mournful ghost story about a mother grieving her three sons.
The instrumental medley called ‘the Hunter Set’ includes various traditional tunes with hunting themes. It showcases the dazzling virtuosity of Maggie Estes White on the Irish-style fiddle.
‘Henry Lee’ is found in Scotland, Ireland and Appalachia. In this occasion, the song gets an Americana treatment with mandolin, fiddle and various other instruments used in bluegrass.
Track 5, ‘Black River’ is a folk ballad and one of the few songs with male lead vocals.
One of the most beautiful cuts is the Gaelic language medley Aoidh Na Dèan Cadal Idir/A Chomaraigh Aoibhinn O’ featuring the gorgeous vocals of Shannon Lambert-Ryan and a beautiful accordion, fiddle and guitar arrangement.
‘The False Knight Upon the Road’ is a fun song that celebrates the wit of a young boy who outsmarts a trickster elf (false knight) who will not let the boy pass.
A ghostly American gospel classic ‘Ain’t No Grave’ is a popular song that has been recorded by Johnny Cash and Norah Jones.
The next song is a modern English folk lullaby by the great singer-songwriter Kate Rusby. It’s another opportunity to enjoy the vocals of Shannon Lambert-Ryan interacting with the fiddle of Maggie Estes White and Fionan de Barra’s guitar.
‘The Ruthless Wife’ is an original Runa song featuring excellent vocal, banjo, guitar and fiddle interplay, inspired by the sensational events surrounding the death of Lambert-Ryan’s great-great grandfather, James Allen Lambert.
Next is an instrumental medley of traditional tunes and an original by Irish composer Martin Mulhare. Here ir another chance to listen to the virtuosity of the powerhouse instrumentalists in the band with outstanding mandolin and fiddle performances.
The love song ‘Rarie’s Hill’ takes you to the outskirts of Dundee in Scotland.
The album ends with the bittersweet ‘The Last Trip Home.’
The lineup includes Irish guitarist and vocalist Fionán de Barra; Irish mandolin, banjo and bodhran player Dave Curley; Canadian percussionist Cheryl Prashker; American fiddler Maggie Estes White; and American bandleader and vocalist Shannon Lambert-Ryan.
Runa’s Current Affairs presents one of the finest North American Celtic music ensembles in recent years, featuring the memorable lead vocals of Shannon Lambert-Ryan.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
