From the ashes of '80s hard-rock band Mama's Boys comes this new Irish three-piece roots band. The members of Celtus really know how to write, produce and touch the very soul of the listener, and What Goes Around... is a classic example of their talent. From the poignant "Shelter," "Hole in My Heart" and "Angel" to the raunchy "What Goes Around," every number is just brilliant.

What you get are classy songs played by excellent musicians. The cherry on the cake is the vocal blend of the three main members of Celtus, namely the McManus brothers, Pat and John, and Jonathan Czerwik. They simply stand out far above anything else currently doing the rounds.

Kicking off with the eastern-sounding title track, this features the band's trademark backing vocals and folk fusion sound. The other stand-out tracks for me are "Jigsaw," which manages to blend modern and traditional sounds seamlessly, and "Hole In My Heart." Whilst some purists may ponder about the use of sequencers and drum machines, it does give this album a very contemporary twist.

Celtus is a popular draw on the live circuit and did incredibly well at Fleadh 2000. This album is sure to add to their fan base and follows the consistent quality of previous releases.

- Rambles
written by Melissa Kowalewski
published 1 February 2003