Libertango

by Sharon Shannon

Overview

Part of Sharon Shannon's appeal -- besides her huge ability on both accordion and fiddle -- is her willingness to ignore musical boundaries and color outside the liens, as she's shown on previous albums. With Libertango she does that, but this time the results aren't as successful as they've been in the past. The opener, "The Whitestrand Sling," mixes her playing with a Latin brass section in a combination that works surprisingly well, then she goes and ruins the moment with a dour take on the Fleetwood Mac chestnut "Albatross" that never makes it off the ground. Sinead O'Connor sings on a couple of cuts, and a vocal from the late Kirsty MacColl graces a superb version of Astor Piazzolla's title cut (which originally saw the light of day in 1996). Perhaps the strangest, and certainly most intriguing, cut is "An Phailistin" featuring Roisin Elsafty, a Gaelic language piece about the suffering of the Palestinians. Heartfelt as it is, the happy instrumental accompaniment is strikingly at odds with the subject. Then the closer, "What You Make It (Dad Da Da Da)" brings in rapper Marvel; nice idea, and it works better than it should. So, ultimately, a hit-and-miss grab bag from Shannon. But she can never be accused of complacency, and for every experiment that doesn't work, there's one that does. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	09/14/2004
Label:	COMPASS RECORDS
UPC:	0766397439228

Tracks

1. The Whitestrand Sling
2. Libertango
3. Duncan's
4. An Phailist¿¿n
5. Albatross
6. Hogs and Heifers
7. The Seven Rejoices of Mary
8. All the Ways You Wander
9. The Burst Mattress
10. Space Party
11. Anachie Gordon
12. The Wishing Well
13. What You Make It (Da da da Da)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sharon Shannon   Primary Artist,Vocals,Various Instruments,Fiddle,Accordion,Low Whistle
Sinead O'Connor   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Vocal Harmony
Kirsty MacColl   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Vocal Harmony
Pauline Scanlon   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocal Harmony
Elsafty Family   Featured Artist
Lady K   Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Marvel   Featured Artist
Roisin Elsafty   Featured Artist,Vocals
Jim Murray   Guitar (Steel),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Nylon String),Vocal Harmony
Stephen McDonnell   Trumpet
Karl Ronan   Trombone
Naisrin Elsafty   Vocal Harmony
Zahrah Elsafty   Vocal Harmony
Hassan Elsafty   Vocal Harmony
Treasa Ni Cheannabhain   Vocal Harmony
Donal Lunny   Keyboards,Percussion,Vocal Harmony,Guitar,Bodhran,Bouzouki
John Reynolds   Drums
Nollaig Casey   Viola,Fiddle
Rupert Christie   Bass
Ray Fean   Drums
Mary Shannon   Banjo,Mandolin
Danny Byrt   Percussion
James Delaney   Piano,Organ (Hammond)
Richie Buckley   Sax (Tenor)
Trevor Hutchinson   Double Bass
Steve Cooney   Guitar
Steve Wickham   Fiddle
Jason Duffy   Drums,Percussion
James Blennerhassett   Double Bass
Graham Henderson   Piano

Technical Credits

John Dunford   Audio Production,Producer
Sharon Shannon   Audio Production,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Group Member
Ciaran Byrne   Engineer
Jill Furmanovsky   Photography
Juliet Martin   Production Coordination
Robyn Robins   Mastering
Leo Healy   Photography
Richard Forde   Engineer
Noirin Ni Riain   Arranger
Stephen McDonnell   Group Member
Karl Ronan   Group Member
D.R. MacDonald   Composer
Dave Turner   Layout Design
Darren Melia   Photography
Wild Bullocks   Performer
Donal Lunny   Composer,Producer,Mixing
Marvel   Performer
Rupert Christie   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Programming
Keith McDonnell   Mixing,Engineer
Tim Martin   Engineer
Mary Shannon   Arranger,Composer,Photography,Group Member
Tommy Peoples   Composer
Astor Piazzolla   Composer
Peter Browne   Composer
Billy McComiskey   Composer
Sinead O'Connor   Arranger
Ian Stanley   Engineer
James Delaney   Group Member
Richie Buckley   Arranger,Group Member
John Spillane   Composer
Peter Green   Composer
Jim Murray   Arranger,Group Member
Trevor Hutchinson   Arranger
Traditional   Composer
Steve Wickham   Arranger
Jason Duffy   Group Member
Ivan O'Shea   Mixing
Chris Newman   Composer
James Blennerhassett   Group Member