Search - Bays, Landes :: House to House

Live Irish music in its proper environment

Paul Magnussen | Campbell, CA USA | 11/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a CD of Irish instrumental music, mostly with Randal Bays on fiddle and Roger Landes on Irish-style bouzouki, recorded live at house concerts. The informal atmosphere is ideal for this kind of thing, and the recording captures it perfectly.



Mr. Bays is an excellent fiddler and his companion a fine accompanist, plus the album has two extra somethings that give it a variety lifting it out of the ordinary.



One is the contributions of additional guests Susan Waters and Leo McNamara on 2nd fiddle and flute respectively. The other is the tracks where Messrs. Bays and Landes reverse rôles, and the latter on mandolin is accompanied by the former on guitar.



Because fiddle is the instrument for which Randal Bays chooses to be known; but if he's not also the best guitar accompanist I've ever heard, he's certainly a contender (as witness his wonderful albums with Martin Hayes and John Williams). He sounds like two people (especially on track three), and I've still no idea how he does it, even after seeing him multiple times.



An album to be proud of. The total time is 60'13".



P.S. I see that it was named by the Irish Times as one of the Top 5 Traditional albums of 2005."