The Hammers - From Distant Shores
Review from Dirty Linen:
November/December '09 #144
The Hammers From Distant Shores: Irish
Music from Canada [New Folk NFR 1502 (2009)] Paul and Susan
Hammer have been learning, playing, and teaching Irish music in the Canadian
province of Manitoba for a number of years. Though they have each also
studied in Ireland, the traditional music they offer through the 14 sets
here maintains a slight touch of the north and of the open plains to go
along with their trueness of tradition. The tunes, which the pair mainly
learned from recordings, come from musicians all across Irish tradition and
geography, ranging from Fintan Vallely to Mary Bergin to the Mulcahy Family
to John and Sean Doyle. This is an all-instrumental album: Paul plays
mandolin, guitar, and banjo, and Susan Plays concertina, whistles, and
bodhrán. Notable cuts include "The Stone in the Field" set of jigs, the
slow air "from Distant Shores," and the set of reels that begins with "Rainy
Day." (KD)
