When Double Indemnity, a once-popular band on the Renaissance faire circuit, ended its run with a less-than-friendly parting of ways, some members formed a new band, Empty Hats, and kept performing. I was surprised, sometime later, to learn that the other former members of Double Indemnity -- Gabriele Decker and Frank O'Gara -- had also started a new band, Crannog, that moved in different circles. I recently dug out their CD No Band is an Island for a listen.

They're good. If you like ren bands, you'll like what they do. Decker is the primary vocalist and plays concertina, while O'Gara plays fiddle and sings. Their new bandmates are Ky Hote (guitar and vocals) and Michael Huebner (percussion and vocals). It's a talented bunch, and they're at their best when Decker does the singing.

The selection is pretty standard stuff, including "The Hills of Connemara," "Step It Out Mary," "The Maid on the Shore" and "The Rocky Road to Dublin." They also include an effective version of "Cantiga 100/Hey Ho," and they end the disc with "Beggars to God," a Bob Franke song that was a Double Indemnity staple.

It's a shame the old band couldn't work out its differences and keep playing, but I'm glad two fine bands rose from the wreckage.