This album was my first exposure to the band Raglan Road, and it was certainly a memorable experience. Stylistically diverse, the band can be placed in the broad category of Celtic rock, but has a large variety of influences. Hints of jazz, disco, heavy metal, samba, techno, funk, country, rock and (of course) Celtic music make their way into Raglan Road's repertoire, resulting in a unique sound which should capture a wide audience.

Raglan Road is Dominic Cromie (guitar and vocals), hailing from Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland, Matt Mancuso (fiddle and trumpet) from Brooklyn, N.Y., and Ed Kollar (double bass) and Dave Barckow (drums and vocals), both from Woodside, N.Y. Together, they play a host of original songs as well as some traditional Irish tunes to which they add their own unique style.

The majority of the original songs on this album are basically of the rock variety, but with a distinct Celtic flair. Fiddle and acoustic guitar mix with drums, double bass and trumpet to form an appealing sound. The band has a number of strengths which contribute to the good quality of this recording. First, each and every instrument on the album is played with a high level of skill. Second, the vocal harmonies are excellent and third, the band has a knack at mixing their original songs with traditional tunes in a way which will attract a contemporary audience.

For examples of these strengths one does not have to listen for long. I can't think of a single track where I did not think that the percussion was top-notch. Barckow plays with finesse and a snappy style. Mancuso's fiddle is energetic and well-placed, while the trumpet adds an interesting touch to the band's overall sound. Kollar's double bass also boosts the sound in both the rhythm and melody departments. Cromie's guitar is wonderful -- finger-picking and chording in all the right places.

In each vocal track on the album, I was likewise impressed. Vocals are strong and clear and fit the tone of the song, while there are plenty of great harmonies. The instrumentals are well arranged, complementing the vocals and resulting in a sound which is quite different from other bands I have heard in this genre of music. An interesting example of Raglan Road's uniqueness is "Better Days." This song begins with a sort of country twang and, later, an almost samba-like beat is added, followed by some jazzy bits -- while still sounding essentially like a Celtic rock song.

This band is quite eclectic, skillfully blending together a wide variety of different styles. "Wreckage," "Gotta Get Out of This Town," "It Will Come in the End," "Liar," "Recklessly" and "Stranger" are all good examples of the band's cohesiveness, characterized by harmonies and instrumental arrangements. I really enjoy the band's slower songs, "It Will Come in the End" and "Newfoundland," for all the same reasons. Perhaps I liked them even more because the slower speed gave me more of a chance to appreciate the good features.

Raglan Road includes a couple of instrumental tracks on the album as well. These tracks were excellent, although I felt that at times the speed of the tunes actually took away from the overall effect. The aptly named "Psycho Reels" was a good set of reels played at a blazing speed. The percussion was wonderful in this set and I liked the arrangements, but when tunes are played at such high speed, they tend to lose a lot of the expression that gives them their character. "Slipper Reels" was a little more tame and much more likeable to me. A great set of slip jigs began the set and it finished with a some toe-tapping (but not frenzied) reels. The fiddle had minimal yet tasteful accompaniment and plenty of expression. "Newfoundland" also contained a great set of instrumentals (which really could have been a separate track) as well -- although, again, a little frenzied for my tastes, at least.

Raglan Road Live then, certainly makes the grade. The vocal harmonies and skilled instrumentals alone make the album well worth listening to, but the band also puts together its material in a well-wrapped package. Anyone enjoying a mix of traditional and contemporary sounds in the Celtic vein should enjoy this recording.

[ by Cheryl Turner ]
Rambles: 5 January 2002