Dervish makes it look easy. Dervish makes it look effortless. At the same time, this Sligo-based band makes music seem like a work of complete and utter joy.

Led by singer Cathy Jordan, the band has produced several albums worthy of acclaim. My favorite of these is Midsummer's Night, a perfect blend of songs and music.

The instrumentals are meticulously arranged, forged through countless sessions in their own Sligo pub and countless jams around the world. The players are all incredibly talented: Tom Morrow on fiddle and viola, Shane Mitchell on accordion, Liam Kelly on flute and low whistle, Seamus O'Dowd on guitars, fiddle and harmonicas, Michael Holmes on bouzouki, and Brian McDonagh on mandolin and mandola. Jordan keeps the beat with bodhran and bones.

As tune sets go, you'll be hard pressed to find their equal. Dervish sweeps you right into the music -- even if you manage to keep still, you'll feel the air around you dancing.

For the songs, Jordan adds a touch of gypsy romance to her deep Irish roots. Her voice here is passionate and expressive, brimming with emotion and a crisp sensual edge. Singing both in English and Gaelic, she wraps herself around the words and invites her audience in to join her.

My favorite song on this album is "The Banks of the Sweet Viledee," also known as "The Demon Lover." In it, a young wife and mother is lured from her home by a promise of love and wealth; instead, she meets her fate on the high seas. Often, in silence, the memory of this song and Jordan's rich vocals will echo in my mind.

Other songs on the album are "Erin Gra mo Chroi," a gorgeous love song to Ireland, "There was a Maid in her Father's Garden," a song of patient love rewarded, "Bold Doherty," which spells out the consequences of a daring affair, and "Red-haired Mary," a lively song of love and brawling. In Gaelic, there's "Sean Bhain" and "An T-Ull."

What a package! No other CD has traveled with me as much as this one has, and I think I put off reviewing it so long (far too long, really) because, subconsciously, I wanted that extra excuse to keep carrying it with me. But I doubt I'll stop now that the writing's done -- Midsummer's Night is one of the best Irish discs on the market, and it would be silly not to give it the frequent attention it deserves.

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