THE FRIEL SISTERS

The twins Anna and Sheila both play the flute and tin whistle, with Sheila also playing the uilleann pipes. Their younger sister Clare plies her talents on the fiddle, an instrument emblematic of Donegal, which earned her the title of Young Musician of the Year in 2018. Then, a few months ago, she joined the band Altan. No small feat! After two albums that were unanimously acclaimed by critics in 2014 and 2018, they are back this year with Northern Sky, which alludes to the sometimes stormy skies of northern Ireland.

In the meantime, they have enlisted the services of Cathal Ó Curráin, with whom they have been playing since their teenage years. Cathal is a prodigious musician who plays bouzouki on the album, but also excels at banjo and fiddle. And then there is the latest recruit, Marty Barry on guitar and bodhrán.
All five also sing on the six songs on the album. Seán Óg Graham, who recorded the album in his studio in County Antrim, joins the quintet on moog on one track. There are twelve tracks on this excellent opus, spanning thirty tunes and songs.
Since we are in Donegal, reels, jigs and highlands follow one another in perfect harmony. At random, you will rediscover or discover some gems of tradition. Such as Old Cuffe Street, already featured on Altan's very first album in 1987. Or the very old song Bíodh Orm Anocht, recorded by Mick Hanly and Michéal Ó Domhnaill in 1974 and more recently performed by the band T With The Maggies. This is followed by Morrison's jig, which Bretons will recognise as Alan Stivell's Ian Morrison Reel.
The album concludes with the very moving song On Diarach, the lyrics of which were written 100 years ago by a member of the Friel family.
Once again, this delightful group demonstrates incredible talent and brilliance. Pure joy.

Autoproduit FRL003 - www.frielmusic.com