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THE IRISH EDITION, March 2002
by Jamie O'Brien
LENAHAN
Brand New Bag!
(Clandestine Records)
What a way to open an album: Celto-funk-rap.
Lenahan excels with a brilliantly conceived variation on James
Brown meets the High Reel - a wonderful marriage of an arrangement.
And that's just the start. Stand by for straight up rock, a
\touch of ska, and a lot more as Tom Lenahan (various instruments),
Clarence Ferrari (guitar, fiddle), Ryan Cavan (drums) and Jim
Nordstrom and Brendan O'Grady (bass), along with a handful of
guests, once again refuse to be categorized, and drawing on
influences and styles from all over, stamp them with their own
distinctive print and defy you to just sit there. Impossible.
There's an energy here that is catching. From
rap to reggae to down-home country, I'm never sure how much
of the music is tongue in cheek and how much is a statement.
"Islands in the Storm" and the re-working of "New
York Lullaby" set out successfully to make a point. But
the honky-tonking "Guinness as Usual" and "Marie,"with
its step dance accompaniment, certainly raise a smile. But more
than that. The band show an incredible sensitivity to melody
and acoustic sounds especially on a track like "Haven Green"as
they join forces with harpist Debbie Brewin-Wilson and Justin
Murphy (flute & whistle).
Lenahan set out to make another fine album,
their fourth to date. And guess what - its worked.
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