The light and airy instrumental which begins No Reason provides no clue of what's about to come.

Sean Cunningham demonstrates a light touch on the flute as he leads off the album with the traditional air "Maids of Mitchellstown." So it comes as a surprise when the band kicks into "Silver Spear" with a flurry of whistle (still Sean) and the rest of SixMileBridge for an energetic interpretation which marks the band's rock roots without ever overwhelming the traditional sound of the tune.

And make no mistake, SixMileBridge -- recently transplanted from Texas to upstate New York -- is a rock band. This isn't a collection of jigs and reels with an electric guitar and a drum kit added for effect; these folks are serious rockers who just happen to find their best source of inspiration in the roots of Irish tradition.

The central figure here is Maggie Drennon, the band's fiddler, bassist and lead singer. She has an excellent vocal style, strong and sensual, the quality of which reminds me a lot of Cathy Lesurf from the Albion Band.

Backing Maggie is Anders Johansson on guitar, bass and vocals; Frances Cunningham on bouzouki, mandolin and guitar; and David Blanton on drums and percussion. Sean Cunningham fills out the sound with flute, whistles, Highland pipes and uillean pipes, plus some vocals. Sean and Anders do a good job providing lead vocals on several tracks, but since the band doesn't seem to want us to know which man is singing which song, it's hard to give them proper credit.

Maggie shows her vocal chops first on "Thousands are Sailing," a moving immigration song written by Phil Chevron. One song down and you already know this is a voice deserving some careful attention. She reinforces that impression immediately with a gorgeous groove on the popular "Wild Mountain Thyme." The bass line keeps the song moving along, while Frances shows a dexterous touch on the mandolin. Sean adds a layer of soaring whistle harmony even as Maggie's voice swells around the final lines. Next, Frances demonstrates her composition skills, matching her bouzouki against Sean's whistle for a sweet original tune, "Cunningham's Waltz."

"Come Out Ye Black and Tans/Bus Stop Reel" is a powerful, angry song, an IRA anthem sung by -- well, by one of the guys with a hard edge and bitter tone perfectly suited to the words. Drennon sings "Is Fad' o Bhaile/It's Far from Home I'd Know You" in slow and sultry Gaelic, layered over a throbbing bass line. The whistle, guitar, bouzouki and drums help make it a tune to remember. And "Easy and Slow," a traditional song of Irish seduction, is mellow enough to relax even the angriest of spirits -- unless of course it's being sung to the father of the girl in question.

"The Magee's Set" begins with a traditional bagpipe arrangement of "Skye Boat Song" before kicking into a rocky medley of "Austin Tierney's" and "Brenda Stubbert's." If you're looking for proof that bagpipes fit neatly into a rock 'n' roll arrangement, here's all the evidence you need.

"Among the Living" is another song of rebellion and violence, with a touch of sadness tempering the rage. The rage turns to remorse in "Gallipoli," another Maggie showcase tackling the heartbreak of the ones left behind after someone falls in senseless battle. A melancholy "Hector the Hero," again featuring the pipes, rounds out the tune. The "Banish Misfortune Set" perks you right back up again, hitting "Banish Misfortune" with Sean's airy whistle before a lively ensemble arrangement of "The Traveler/Congress Reel/Duffy the Dancer," on which guest Eden Somer adds an extra layer of fiddle.

One of the boys is back to sing "Rising of the Moon," a rousing rebel song with a touch of funk. The song ends with a down-and-dirty version of "Reconciliation" featuring the whistle and a wah-wah guitar. The album rolls to a close with Maggie singing "Restless Farewell," a Bob Dylan tune which fits perfectly with the tone of the preceding tracks.

If you like your Irish music with a rock edge -- or, rather, if you like your rock with a bit o' Irish -- find yourself a copy of SixMileBridge's No Reason. This is an album worth putting some new wear and tear on your speakers.