One of the best ways for Celtic music fans to treat themselves is to go see Clandestine live. This Houston-based quartet unfailingly provides some of the best vocals and most exemplary instrumental sets in the business, and their show are always high-energy personality-driven events.

If a concert's not plausible, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the band's live album, Music from Home, recorded during two performances in April 2001 at their hometown music mecca, McGonigel's Mucky Duck. Twelve tracks in all, the album includes a few perennial Clandestine favorites ("Babylon," "Bugs in the Beer" and "Cannonball") as well as several not previously recorded ("Waterloo," "Both Sides of the Tweed," "Bluebonnets," "Long Journey South" and "Breton Tunes"). The disc ends with a rousing "Miss Amanda Mae."

Clandestine is Jennifer Hamel (vocals, guitar), Emily Dugas (percussion, vocals), Gregory McQueen (fiddle, electric fiddle, bodhran) and E.J. Jones (Highland bagpipes, bombarde, flute, low whistle, backing vocals). All four are virtuosos, and there is not a note played or a sung that's not studio perfect.

The only thing missing here is the band's personality, the infectious spirit that adds so much zest to Clandestine's shows. Overzealous editing left all of the band's chatter on the cutting-room floor. Even the crowd's enthusiastic cheers and applause are cropped close to the end of each tune, barely giving Jen time to say "thanks" before each fadeout. And the abrupt ending left me expecting a bonus track as an encore -- no such luck.

Still, the music on this live CD is consistently excellent, and there's nearly 60 minutes of it to help sate my Clandestine cravings. Music from Home goes far towards keeping my impatience at bay until the next time I see Clandestine live.