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Golden Bough: Paul Espinoza (vocals, guitar, mandolin, mandola, accordion, chimes, acoustic bass); Lief Sorbye (vocals, mandolin, mandola, guitar, acoustic bass, flute, bodhran, percussion); Florie Brown (vocals, violin, viola, mandolin, nyckelharpa); Margie Butler (vocals, Celtic folk & Neo-Celtic harps, recorder, tin whistle, Irish Concert whistle, bodhran, Norwegian tussefloyte, percussion, spoons). Additional personnel: Simon Spalding (violin, viola, mandolin, balalaika, bodhran); Margot Duxler (violin, viola, finger cymbals); Zsolt Nagy (viola); Istvan Beran (tarogato); Pablo Carcamo, Albert Mohacsy (upright bass). A two-CD compilation of Golden Bough recordings that effectively covers their range, from originals to covers of songs by Ewan MacColl and Archie Fisher and then, of course, to the traditional material tackled mainly in a traditional manner, with some extra air and grace injected in a few of the pieces (though they don't fall into the breathing-in-a-cavern effects that Clannad and Enya gave themselves to). There are some quite jolly moments, as well as one very perverse entry that proclaims celebration and gaiety lyrically, while being pensive and mournful musically. It all sounds good, if not great, and makes for a pleasurable repeated listening experience. A particularly welcome treat is the inclusion of a lyrics booklet, rather unusual in the traditional music field. ~ Steven McDonald
