Altan - Harvest Storm

The word Altan means a "stream," but "raging river" might better describe the career of this band. Harvest Storm was a watershed album, offering a solid mix of forward-looking idealism while holding fast to tradition. It earned the group numerous awards, and paired with Island Angel, may be the best work they'll ever produce. They pay close attention to their Northern roots here. Songs like the title track and "Pretty Peg" attain high energy while the closing track, "Dobbin's Flowery Vale," remembers the power of the sad, subtle ballad. There's no lack of history to their vision, and no lack of interest in the new sounds of Celtic music, but they were still staying above the coming tide of synthesized swoosh that defines Celtic music in the '90s. --Louis Gibson Amazon.com essential recording

Lovely

Selections from this album are always popping up in my iPod's list of favorite songs. Some days, when I need some energy, I'm playing their pub music. Other days, when I'm crashing on a deadline (or working on my Irish - WHAT a hard language! - learning songs really helps drum the crazy consonant changes into the brain), it's Maighr?ad all the way! Her voice is so beautiful (although it's higher than I usually prefer) and her delivery is so precise that I often listen to her pieces over and over again. Great music! April 16, 2006

awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This cd rocks! I recommend this cd to anyone who likes celtic music. The fiddling is fast and furious and the vocals are beautiful. BUY IT!!! April 21, 2004

The Single Best CD of Irish Music ever!

There is only one thing you need to know about this disc: It is the best CD of Irish Music ever created. Altan is every bit the artistic and creative equivalent of the Miles Davis group with Coltrane and Evans. In the jazz world, the music never ever got that amazing after them, and the world was by no means ready for works like "Kind of Blue."
Say the same for this outfit. Especially since at the time of the recording, leader Frankie Kennedy knew his life was running out. Maybe that is what infuses every breath he plays on this CD with a sense of urgency. Maybe that is what took his remarkable colleagues to unprecedented heights on this collective outpouring of emotional and compelling music. This is genius from the very beginning note until all dissolves painfully away in "Dobbins Flowery Vale."
One more disc with this lineup would follow and it would be Frankie's coda, and leave a legacy that will be treasured and preserved long, long after all of us are gone. But right here is when it all went supernova. Mairead is the greatest Irish fiddle player ever in the entire history of the tradition. She rips through these reels, schottisches and slips jigs with unbridled passion. Her voice comes from someplace mystical and transports the listener to the realms only aislings can see. She brings the very best out of Ciaran Tourish and Daithi Sproule as they counter her parries on fiddle and in daithi's case on vocals. Holding down the rhythm as no one else, including the esteemable Mr Lunny, is Ciaran Curran. As co-founder with Mairead and Frankie, he knew well the precipice they were approaching with Frankie's illness. Bravery infuses his indomitable spirit in centering all the proceedings on this disc. Live at this stage, they were incandescently brilliant. White hot! In the studio, a sense of the divine settles in and the entire confidence that Music brings to those who are devoted from the heart pours out at times on fire, at times like honey.
If you are only to own 1 CD in your life of Irish music, this is the one. This is the Holy Grail of an entire tradition. The remarkable thing is they did it again with "Island Angel." February 1, 2003

A must-have for any fan of Irish music.

There are certain albums that rank somewhere above "excellent," which are almost mandatory pieces of a Celtic music collection. Silly Wizard's Live Wizardry is one. Leahy's debut album is another. And then there's Altan's Harvest Storm.

Altan lays claim to an extremely talented bunch of musicians who keep the instrumental pieces tight and lively. They are, without doubt, among the best ensemble players calling Ireland their home. January 28, 2003

Altan--fiddle heaven.

Wonderful musicianship. Infectious rhythm. I'm thankful to all the other reviews. I never get tired of this one. I would prefer the flute in unison with their outstanding fiddling. The band in general features its two fiddlers with good reason, but it would sound lacking to one who enjoys flute and fiddle in the florid melodic line. A very strong band and very danceable. The flute,where used,is very good. December 21, 2000

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