Wherever green is worn...
Steven Cain | Temporal Quantum Pocket | 06/01/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album represents ridiculous value, so please don't be put off by the low price. For me, the standout songs are Wearing Of The Green (sadly few Irish artists have recorded this utter classic), Boys Of County Cork (the boys who beat the Black and Tans), Home Fires, The Pursuit Of Farmer Michael Hayes and A Nation Once Again. All of these song versions are every bit as good as anything you have ever heard by any Irish artist. Home Fires is particularly strong, being a strident version, driven by some of the most emotive and attacking pipes playing I have heard in years. The version of A Nation Once Again is very sensitive and beautiful, and captures elements of the song that have been lost in cruder versions by other artists.If this album contained The Wind That Shakes The Barley, I would rate it as one of the best albums of all time. Having said that, the greatest version of that song is still the version by Dead Can Dance (featuring Lisa Gerrard), from their album Toward The Within. To be sure.If you are looking for a powerful and varied collection of Irish Rebel music, this album plus The Clancy Bothers And Tommy Makem's Rising Of The Moon and the Wolfe Tones' Rifles Of The IRA (all available through Amazon) will definitely hit the spot.As I said, ridiculous value."