AN TOR

Unknown in France, but very popular across the Rhine, here is An Tor, a quintet formed in 1997 in the Frankfurt area. An Tor is a Gaelic word for rocky height. It is also a locality in the Rosses area of Donegal, a place where many of them have their habits. As they are not professionals, they play far and wide at concerts which are well attended. In twenty-three years, they released their first five track EP in 2002 and an album in 2006. Some time ago, they recorded a second EP called Boglands, whose cover is decorated with a bog typical of this remote corner of Ireland. A flute, a fiddle, a diatonic accordion, a bouzouki and a guitar to which is added here a bodhrán and you have the powerful cocktail of an energetic devilish music, which has nothing to envy to the one of the Irish musicians themselves.

There are only seven tracks on this opus, including two songs. Road to Clady, a well-known song originally performed by Sarah Makem and which has since been covered by many bands: Lá Lugh, Craobh Rua, and Bushes and Briars (Loreena McKennitt). There are also several tunes such as the standard The Bag of Spuds or Altan's The March of the Meenatoitean Bull.

Throughout the CD we can see the influence of bands like Planxty, Bothy Band or Altan, obviously, since they are aficionados of Donegal. What a pity with such great talent not to have offered us a more complete album. We look forward to the next one.

Leiselaut LLCD 1-030 - www.leiselaut.com