It arrived yesterday ... excellent service from Tayberry. Many thanks again to Terry for the tip.

I've only listened to it through once. Pretty obvious that there wasn't a huge pot of money available to lavish on the production - compared with recordings of Paddy Keenan from the Bothy Band days onwards the feel is very much rawer than we have become used to. (Not necessarily a bad thing!)

Some stand-out tracks! Bit disapppointed that Paddy only gives Coppers and Brass the once-round (but nice version of The Rambling Pitchfork to follow).

His piping of the Blackbird is a classic and it's interesting to compare it with the version on Afterhours. Each time I've listened to Paddy play the tune on Afterhours, the change from the Air to the Dance has always been more pleasurable than I remember. (If that makes sense!) I'm sure the same will hold true for the version on this album. (I've always wanted the Blackbird played at my funeral ... I would really get a kick out of the atmosphere changing as the dance section of the tune is introduced.)

As for the two closing tracks (The Wild Irishman/The Sailor's Bonnet and Colonel Frazier/My Love Is In Amerikay), Ennis goes into detail on the legato, staccato and other techniques Paddy uses whereas I just shake my head at the untamed beauty.