MCGOLDRICK MCCUSKER DOYLE – Live (Vertical Records)

MCGOLDRICK MCCUSKER DOYLELike your draw dropping open when you first saw Mo Farah or Usane Bolt at the Olympics you know you are witnessing something special given the combined talents of Mike McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle taking to the stage and this CD magnificently captures that moment for posterity. Make no mistake, when this personable three-piece start playing they intend to take no
prisoners and in spreading their Celtic passion and passing it amongst their audience like a sprinkling of fairy dust the end result is ‘magic’. Doyle injects a funky, rhythmic style in his guitar playing that would ignite the Olympic cauldron (Danny Boyle missed an opportunity there) whilst the fiddle/flute/pipes interplay from McGoldrick and McCusker assail your audio pleasure with exclamations of disbelief at the mastery of their chosen weapons. Like a shot of adrenaline individually and collectively the trio invigorate the listener with their mixture of traditional and self composed melodies and coupled with John’s assured vocals (joined by guest Heidi Talbot on Nic Jones “Boys Of Bedlam”) the lads combine in a musical camaraderie that just has to be experienced once in your lifetime. With the album coming in at a total of 1 hour 10 minutes I still (selfishly) want more.

PETE FYFE