IAN SMITH - PETER KERLIN - JENS KOMMNICK

He is coming back this year with a brand new album, the release of which has been delayed due to the pandemic. After his solo album last year, this time he has teamed up with two German musicians with whom he has been collaborating for a number of years, including touring the continent.

Peter Kerlin first of all, singer and guitarist well known on the German and international Celtic folk scene since the seventies. And then Jens Kommnick, multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, piano, cello, uilleann pipes, whistles) involved in several bands including Iontach. I already told you about him when he participated in Ian Smith's previous album. Fifteen tracks are featured here, a majority of which are songs and two instrumentals. Eight texts by Ian and five by Peter.

We are pleased to find titles already recorded by Ian on his album A Celtic Collection (2011). Thus Far beyond Carrickfinn which pays tribute to the fiddler Francie Mooney (father of Mairéad of Altan), Emerald, Upon Culloden's Moor, an anti-war song about the famous battle that saw the defeat of the Scottish Jacobites by English troops. And above all the magnificent Brightest Sky Blue, a delicate musical pearl. Peter Kerlin presents July 2017, Ride a White Swan and The Shores of Donegal, inspired by his first stay in Donegal, a stone's throw from where Ian lives. Jens accompanies the two guitarists and puts his inspired paw on the two instrumentals, Dance of the Butterflies and Triangle Jig, both composed by Peter.

The guests also include the virtuoso accordionist Dermot Byrne and Rolf Wagels, a member of the German band Cara, on the bodhrán. From the first to the last note of the album the talent of these musicians explodes. The musical Triangle turns at full speed on sounds and lyrics charged with meaning. Melancholy, warmth and comfort are some of the vocals that suit this opus that you owe it to yourself to listen to. A real success.

S.T.I.R. 620 - www.iansmithmusic.net - www.peterkerlin.de - www.jenskommnick.de