Libertango (2004)

Product Summary Label: Compass UPC: 00766397439228 Release Date: 9/28/2004 Buy.com Sku: 61706278 Item#: MXNUC4 Format:  CD Song Listing Disc 1 Song Title Sample 1. Whitestrand Sling, The ~ Sharon Shannon 2. Libertango - (with Kirsty MacColl) ~ Sharon Shannon 3. Duncan's ~ Sharon Shannon 4. An Phailistin - (featuring Roisin Elsafty/Elsafty Family) ~ Sharon Shannon 5. Albatross ~ Sharon Shannon 6. Hogs And Heifers ~ Sharon Shannon 7. Seven Rejoices of Mary, The - (with Sinead O'Connor) ~ Sharon Shannon 8. All the Ways You Wander - (with Pauline Scanlon) ~ Sharon Shannon 9. Burst Mattress, The ~ Sharon Shannon 10. Space Party ~ Sharon Shannon 11. Anachie Gordon - (with Sinead O'Connor) ~ Sharon Shannon 12. Wishing Well, The ~ Sharon Shannon 13. What You Make It (Da da da da) - (featuring Marvel/Lady K) ~ Sharon Shannon   Album Notes and Credits Notes & Personnel Info Personnel: Sharon Shannon (fiddle, accordion); Sharon Shannon (vocals, various instruments); Sin?ad O'Connor, R¢is¡n Elsafty (vocals); D¢nal Lunny (guitar, bouzouki, keyboards, bodhran, percussion); Steve Cooney (guitar); Jim Murray (acoustic guitar, steel guitar, nylon-string guitar); Mary Shannon (banjo, mandolin); Nollaig Casey (fiddle, viola); Steve Wickham (fiddle); Richie Buckley (tenor saxophone); Stephen McDonnell (trumpet); Karl Ronan (trombone); James Delaney, Graham Henderson (piano); James Blennerhassett, Trevor Hutchinson (double bass); Jason Duffy (drums, percussion); John Reynolds, Ray Fean (drums); Danny Byrt (percussion); Rupert Christie (programming); Lady K (background vocals); Kirsty MacColl, Pauline Scanlon (vocals). Audio Mixers: Rupert Christie; Keith McDonnell; D¢nal Lunny; Ivan O'Shea. Recording information: Bow Lane Studios, Dublin, Ireland (??/1996-07/2003); Grouse Lodge Studios (??/1996-07/2003); Marguerite Studios, Dublin, Ireland (??/1996-07/2003); Sharon's Home, Co. Galway (??/1996-07/2003); Westland Studios, Dublin, Ireland (??/1996-07/2003); Windmill Lane (??/1996-07/2003). Photographers: Darren Melia; Leo Healy; Jill Furmanovsky; Mary Shannon. Arrangers: Sharon Shannon; Jim Murray; N¢ir¡n N¡ Riain; Sin?ad O'Connor; Steve Wickham; Trevor Hutchinson; Richie Buckley; Mary Shannon. 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. Sin?ad 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   Compilation Appearances Vol. 1-Woman's Heart Vol. 2-Woman's Heart Her Infinite Variety Vol. 1-Bringing It All Back Ho Vol. 1-16 Great Praise & Worsh Tunes Hands Across The Water Beginner's Guide To Folk Music (eng) Greatest Irish Artist European Playground Rough Guide To Irish Folk   Technical Info Release Date : 09/14/2004 Original Release Date : 2004 Catalog ID : 4392 Label : Compass (USA) Number of Discs : 1 Studio/Live : Studio Mono/Stereo : Stereo SPAR Code : n/a UPC : 00766397439228   Professional Reviews Dirty Linen (p.52) - "LIBERTANGO is a satisfying Irish stew of diverse ingredients, a blend of instrumental medleys that mostly feature Shannon's regular touring band..."