A few decades ago, Solas numbered among my very favorite Irish ensembles. However, although I always enjoyed and admired the Philadelphia-based band's instrumental chops, I let my attention lapse when their original lead singer, the fantastic Karan Casey from County Waterford, Ireland, left Solas for other projects.

It was my loss, because as I mentioned, the musicians have always been top-notch, foremost among them band founders Seamus Egan, who here plays nylon guitar, banjo, mandolin, flute, whistles and bodhran, and Winifred Horan, on fiddle. And, given their musical acumen, it's a given they would never sully Casey's vocal legacy with a weak singer. So, why did I hesitate?

On The Turning Tide, released more than a decade ago, the singer is Mairead Phelan from Kilkenny, and her voice is absolutely lovely. She gets her first chance to shine on the second track, a Richard Thompson song titled "The Ditching Boy," with plenty more to follow. She sings on roughly half of the album's 12 tracks, and her vocals are sweet, pure and refreshing throughout.

The other half of the album consists of instrumental tracks, some traditional but most written by Egan, Horan and Mick McAuley (button accordion, guitar and backing vocals). Good stuff; probably my favorite is Egan's Grady Fernando Comes to Town."

Also in the band this time around is Eamon McElholm on guitar, piano and harmony vocals, with guests Chico Huff (electric and acoustic bass), Ben Wittman (drums/percussion), Catriona McKay (harp) and John Anthony (bodhran/percussion).

That will teach me to pay better attention in the future. I've been missing out!