Way back in 2004, I reviewed Smoky Finish's 2002 release, Clear This Planet ... Immediately. The band was a memorable rock- and blues-infused Celtic quintet from Austria -- regretfully, their website is now defunct and at least some of the musicians are involved in other projects -- and several tracks still pop up on the reliable old iPod I keep in my car.

So, when sorting recently through endless boxes of unreviewed CDs from years gone by, I was happy to find this one from back in the days when Smoky Finish was still a going concern.

The band back then was Esch (bouzouki, guitar, mandolin, saz, jews harp, vocals), Bernhart Ruso (flute, whistle, bodhran, cajon, highhat, darabuka), Andy Neumeister (guitar, e-guitar, e-bass, vocals), Klara Schiffermuller (fiddle, e-cello, vocals) and Paul Dangl (fiddle, e-violin, e-mandolin, vocals).

When I say that Tune the Speed is more of the same, please know that is a compliment. Popping this CD into my desktop player instantly transported me two decades into the past, with signature tune sets that sound like no other band's and vocals that are just as distinctive. Seeing these guys live must have been quite an experience!

Twenty-five years ago, before I was ever married or had children or gardens to worry about, I reviewed CDs at an astonishing rate. Consequently, CDs came into my mailbox with a frequency that surprised me and, I suspect, annoyed my mailman quite a bit. Then, life took a turn and, in so many ways, became richer and fuller. I wouldn't trade it! But, as a side effect of personal evolutions, CD reviews became much less frequent and, sad to say, a great number of CDs ended up in boxes with the silent promise that I would find time someday to get to them. Sometimes, I keep that promise as I find spare moments and find an intriguing disc in storage. Hence, this review ... which, unfortunately, comes far too late to be of any benefit to the members of Smoky Finish.

But to anyone reading this, the music is still out there to be found. It's not too late for you to discover and enjoy! Believe me, it's worth your while.