"This anniversary album, like all the other albums from The London Lasses, is a delight to listen to. This group of women are top class solo musicians and together they form a wonderful traditional sound. There is great life and energy in the music from start to finish and it’s wonderful to see past members joining the current group for this celebratory recording. The tunes are varied and diverse and the old and the new tunes are weaved together to form a lovely flow. It is great to hear some wonderful newly composed tunes like Tommy Fitzharris’s ‘White Fairy’, Edel Fox’s ‘Nana Jo’s’ and Josephine Keegan’s ‘The Punchbowl’ and ‘The Curlew’ fit in so well with the older tunes. The beautiful voice of Bróna McVittie is another highlight of this album and I am also delighted to see a new generation of young lasses, in particular Annie & Katie Quinn, joining the ranks and adding their own unique sound to The London Lasses. Maith sibh a chailíní ceolmhara agus go mba fada buan sibh!"
Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha
Head of Music, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Recorded at The Cowshed, London, on 28–30 January and 29–30 April 2022 (cowshedstudio.com). Additional recording at Currinara Studios, Foxford, Co. Mayo (track 8) by Tom Doherty, and at Tim O’Connor’s vintage studio in Savoie, France (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, 14).
Engineered and mixed by Sean Read and John McCormack
Design by Antonia Bailey (tonistead78@virginmedia.com)
Mastered by Sean Read at Famous Times Recording Studio, Hackney (famoustimes.co.uk)
Produced by The London Lasses
CICD210 (LoLa Records in association with Cló Iar-Chonnacht)
All tunes and songs traditional, arranged by The London Lasses, with the exception of: Caves of Kiltannon (composed by Paddy Canny); The New Home (composed by Connie O’Connell); The Clare Shout (composed by Bobby Gardiner); Rathfriland on the Hill (composed by Dan Rice); The Woods of Caolrua (composed by John Dwyer); Dancing Eyes (composed by Seán Ryan); The Crock of Gold (composed by Vincent Broderick); The White Fairy (composed by Tommy Fitzharris); The Leitrim Rover (composed by Joe Liddy); The Punchbowl and The Curlew (composed by Josephine Keegan); Séamus Connolly’s Favourite (composed by Paddy O’Brien, JDC Publications); Gort Na Móna (composed by Michael Rooney); Martin Wynne’s No. 4 (composed by Martin Wynne); Nana Jo’s (composed by Edel Fox); The Culfadda (composed by Larry Redican); Farewell to London (composed by Brendan McGlinchey); Rossmore Jetty (composed by Father P. J. Kelly).
Featuring all new material, LL25 marks trad Irish band the London Lasses’ 25th anniversary. The band has played on many
prestigious stages, from Cambridge Folk Festival, the Concertgebouw and Dublin City Hall to Glastonbury, Philadelphia Irish Festival and the Royal Albert Hall (performing the first ever BBC Proms céilí and supporting The Chieftains)....more
Brilliant tunes, played brilliantly. Great recording too - well worth listening with headphones to take advantage of the stereo fun.
Don't miss the sister album Tunes from the Goodman Manuscripts Rory C
I've been binge-listening this album since I bought it a few weeks ago. The warmth and expressiveness of this musical conversation has me completely charmed... Louisa Bennion
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