Solas

by Solas

Overview

Solas succeed where other Irish bands fail: They're lively without being frenetic; Karan Casey's vocals are high and clear without being ethereal or waifish; and they manage to add texture and complexity to the many traditionals they play. Their self-titled debut contains five songs (not enough!) and eight jigs, reels, and airs. The group know how to build an instrumental up to a fevered pitch, as on "The Yellow Tinker/Cranking Out/Master Crowley's #2," which creates fantasy swirls of accordion and fiddle before the guitar enters with its insistent rhythms. Not that all the pieces are fast: "Crested Hens" is a slow, sweet air -- a bit reminiscent of Jay Ungar or Eileen Ivers -- and "My Johnny's Gone for a Soldier" is a sweet love song about an Irish rebellion. Solas is simply one of the best, most varied albums of Irish music to come out in a long time. ~ Kurt Keefner

Product Details

Release Date:	08/08/2025
Label:	Shanachie
UPC:	0016351780218

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Solas   Primary Artist
John Williams   Conductor,Concertina,Vocals (Background),Accordion
Karan Casey   Vocals
John Anthony   Bodhran,Percussion
Seamus Egan   Tres,Flute,Guitar,Bodhran,Low Whistle,Tin Whistle,Flute (Alto),Uillean Pipes,Vocals (Background),Whistle (Instrument)
John Doyle   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Winifred Horan   Fiddle,Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Johnny Cunningham   Arranger,Producer
Karan Casey   Arranger
Paul Smith   Assistant Engineer
David Katzenstein   Photography
Steve Byram   Design
John Baker   Mastering
Traditional   Composer
Solas   Arranger
John Anthony   Mixing,Engineer
Seamus Egan   Arranger,Composer
John Doyle   Arranger
Winifred Horan   Arranger