If traditional Irish and Scots music stirs your soul and moves your feet, then this CD is made for you.

The Celt in a Twist radio pick of the month for February 2010, Cross The Roaring Main features 11 melodic, haunting and rousing ballads, jigs and reels, mostly traditional but with a few variations and an original composition thrown in for good measure.

The band takes it names from a term with Scots roots, variously translated as "common sense" or "shrewdness," and comprises four skilled musicians who obviously love what they're doing. The band was formed by Shawn McBurnie, who envisioned an acoustic group capable of performing traditional music and his original compositions.

This debut album by the group demonstrates the energy and range of the band in their interpretation of such traditional selections as "Sour Milk Cart," "The Peeler & the Goat" and the lovely "Slieve Gallion Braes" to McBurnie's original and amusing "Darned Socks."

McBurnie, a native of the Pacific Northwest transplanted to Minnesota, is the vocalist and also plays bodhran and cello. His voice is well-suited to the sean-nos style where the voice places as much emphasis on the words as on melody.

Chad McAnnally, a professional harpist for more than 20 years, won the title of National Scottish Harp Champion last June in competition in Wellington, Ohio. In addition to the harp, he also plays hammered dulcimer and tin whistle. Both Shawn and Chad teach at the Center for Irish Muic in St. Paul.

The other two members of Rumgumption are Jason Novak, who plays cittern and flute, and Adam Modares, who plays djembe and uilleann pipes.

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